Triboelectric Technology

The History

The triboelectric effect is a fundamental physics principle. Particles passing by or impacting a sensitive probe create a minuscule electrical charge - AC and DC respectively.

The development of triboelectric instruments for emissions monitoring and process control applications dates to the late 70s when Auburn systems refined the controls required to process these tiny signals and developed commercial versions of devices to monitor resin pellet pneumatic conveyors for blockages and emissions particulate.

The sensitivity of triboelectric offered vast improvements over optical solutions which tend to only detect levels of emissions >10%. USEPA saw the opportunity to improve emissions controls and formalized the regulatory use of triboelectric for the first time with the secondary lead smelting MACT in 1995.

Continuous improvements in controls over the past two decades have both improved accuracy and durability, and simplified the implementation of triboelectric detection. While some myths persist, today's systems no longer require calibration nor are they subject to the adjustment complications known in early systems.

It's proven, reliable and very accurate instrumentation for a variety of today's manufacturing requirements.