Energy and Environment Asst.

lecturer Ethar Aqeel

Electrostatic precipitators (ESP)

-They operate by generating a corona between a high voltage electrode

and a passive earthed electrode.

-Particles passing through such an electric field are ionized by ions

migrating from the discharge to the collector electrode with whom they
collide. These particles then drift towards the collector electrode to which
they are held by electrostatic attraction.

-The particles are removed from from the collector by either a water
spray or rapping periodically.

They may be in flat plates or tubular units (as shown in fig. below)

Fig 3.1: A- plate type ESP

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Energy and Environment Asst. lecturer Ethar Aqeel

Fig 3.1: B- Tubular type ESP

The efficiency of an ESP with plate collectors is given by:

Efficiency=1-exp(-AW/Q)

where

A:area of the plate[m2].

W:particle migration (sedimentation) velocity in an electric field[m/s].

=a dp

a=is a function of the charging field, the carrier gas properties, and the
ability of the particles to accept an electrical charge [s-1],and dp is the
particle diameter[m].

Q: gas flow rate[m3/s].

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Energy and Environment Asst. lecturer Ethar Aqeel

Advantages

-ESPs are extremely efficient(99% or higher) for a wide range of particle

sizes.

-They can handle large volumes of gas (25-1000 m3/s).

-Have low pressure drops.

- They can operate continuously with little maintenance.

- They can be used to collect acid or tar mists.

Disadvantages

-High initial installation cost.

-Require a great deal of space for an industrial operation.

-High efficiencies can be achieved within limited temperature range.

- Require periodical maintenance for electrodes.

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Energy and Environment Asst. lecturer Ethar Aqeel

Example:

Determining plate- area requirements for an electrostatic precipitator.An

electrostatic precipitator is to be constructed to remove fly- ash particles
from stack gases flowing at 10 m3/s. Analysis of a similar system shows
that the drift velocity can be taken as W=3.0×105 dp m/s

Determine the plate area required to collect a 0.5µm particle with

a: 90 percent efficiency

b: 99 percent efficiency

Solution:

1- Using eq W= adp
W = 3.0 × 105 S-1 ×5.0×10-7 m
=0.15 m/s
2- Using eq ƞ= 1- exp[- ]

0.90=1-exp[- A]

1-0.9=exp[-0.015/m2 .A]
2.3=0.015/m2 A
A=153 m2
3- For 99 percent efficiency:

1-0.99= exp(-0.015/m2 .A)

4.61= 0.0151/m2

A= 307 m2