Particle Collection

When a charged particle reaches the grounded collection electrode, the charge on the particle is only partially discharged. The charge is slowly leaked to the grounded collection plate. A portion of the charge is retained and contributes to the inter-molecular adhesive and cohesive forces that hold the particles onto the plates (Figure 1). Adhesive forces cause the particles to physically hold on to each other because of their dissimilar surfaces. Newly arrived particles are held to the collected particles by cohesive forces; particles are attracted and held to each other molecularly. The dust layer is allowed to build up on the plate to a desired thickness and then the particle removal cycle is initiated.