US Patent 9631554 Electrostatic charge control inlet particle separator system

An inlet particle separator system for an engine includes an inner flowpath section, an outer flowpath section, a splitter, a first electrostatic discharge device, and a second electrostatic discharge device. The outer flowpath section surrounds at least a portion of the inner flowpath section and is spaced apart therefrom to define a passageway having an air inlet. The splitter is disposed downstream of the air inlet and extends into the passageway to divide the passageway into a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path. The first electrostatic charge device is disposed between the air inlet and the splitter and is electrostatically charged to a first polarity. The second electrostatic charge device is disposed downstream of the first electrostatic charge device and is electrostatically charged to a second polarity that is opposite to the first polarity.