Grid Electrode Precipitator Commercialization Plan

Primary Partner: Cameron Manufacturing & Design
Project Type: CAP V
Web Address: www.camfab.com

Technical Description:

This project is to create a comprehensive commercialization plan for the patented grid electrode precipitator (GEP) that is currently in the final stages of design and manufacturing by Cameron Manufacturing & Design (CMD) at Clarkson University to be installed at the beta test site at Infotonics Technology Center (Infotonics) in Canandaigua, NY.

The air supplied to clean rooms and other filtering applications, using both wet and dry processes, is filtered to remove small particles. The pressure drop across these systems results in significant power consumption. For example, the power consumption of four clean rooms at Infotonics in Canandaigua, NY costs approximately one million dollars per year. This project will commercialize an alternative method for removing particles from the air supplied to clean rooms and other filtering applications, using both wet and dry processes, that eliminates the need for filters, greatly reducing power consumption, eliminating the use and disposal of filters, and also greatly reducing processing costs in wet applications relating to drying the effluent and disposing of the remains.

Direct societal benefits are reductions in energy usage, high efficiency removal of IEQ and reduction of contaminants including particulates, allergens, and gases, and reduction of wastes contributed to landfills and other disposal methods. Because of the large savings in operating costs, and the low purchase and installation costs of the GEP, it is anticipated that most end users will recoup a 100% return on investment (ROI) in 12 to 18 months, depending on the application and project variables such as electrical consumption, the price of electrical energy, filter costs, filter disposal costs, effluent disposal costs, and required downtime for cleaning and maintenance.

The GEP Commercialization Plan will guide the development, manufacturing and profitable sales of the patented GEP. Supported by the GEP Commercialization Plan, the initial unit design will be marketed immediately after the beta test has been successfully completed at Infotonics. As this initial design is entering the market, continuing R&D efforts will expand this patented technology into a full product line of GEPs. The units will be manufactured at CMD in Horseheads, NY, creating jobs (with conservative estimate of 5-8 jobs within three years). CMD will expand its current operations in Potsdam, NY for R&D and marketing of the GEP product line, resulting in additional jobs in the 12-county Central Upstate New York region.

CAP Funding Secured by NY Assemblyman William Magnarelli

Accomplishments:
Researcher Information:

http://www.camfab.com