Journal Article

This article gives a history of the Cottrell precipitator, the development of electrical precipitation, the theory and principles of the Cottrell process, an account of the installation at Geelong of the Australian Cement Ltd., the construction of the precipitators generally, electrical equipment, factors affecting the design of installations, and recovery and efficiency. Its history is interesting :- In 1824 Hohlfeld at Leipzig found that, if he electrified a wire hung in a bottle filled with smoke, the smoke cleared rapidly and a deposit formed on the inside of the bottle. It was also announced 25 years later by C. F. Guitard, of London. In 1884-1886 Sir Oliver Lodge brought up the subject of electrical precipitation in England in connection with the abatement of smoke and the dissipation of fog, but commercial attempts failed. In 1884 Dr. Karl Moeller experimented in Germany with the electrical precipitation of dust and fume, but there were no commercial applications made. Dr. Cottrell, of the California university, did the first work of importance on electrical precipitation, starting in 1906, which was followed by the first successful installation at the works of the Selby Smelting and Lead Co. in San Francisco bay for the collection of sulphuric acid fumes. Cottrell patents throughout the world followed, which are controlled by various organisations.