Effect of Rapping System Malfunctions on

ESP Performance

Tushar Kumar
Addl. Gen. Manager
(Elect. Erection)
NTPC Ltd.
What is Particulate Matter
• "Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture
of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a
number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic
chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.
• The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health
problems. Particle pollution can be grouped into two categories:

• "Inhalable coarse particles," such as those found near roadways and dusty industries, are
larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter. 

• "Fine particles," such as those found in smoke and haze, are 2.5 micrometers in diameter
and smaller. These particles can be directly emitted from sources such as forest fires, or
they can form when gases emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles react in
the air.
Electrostatic Precipitator
ESP Process
ESP Works on Six steps in the process of Precipitation
1. Ionization of gas

2. Charging of dust particles

3. Migration of particle towards Collecting Electrode

4. Deposition of charged particles on the Collecting Surface

5. Dislodging of particles from collecting surface

6. Ash Removal from Hoppers

 ESP PROCESS STEPS
1.Electron emission
Dust layer
1
Collecting
electrode,
2.Dust particle charging
grounded
2
3

3.Migration

4 5.Rapping

4.dust collection 5

Discharge electrode with

Negative high tension (20-70kV) Rapping mechanism
Emitting System Collecting System
Rapping Systems

Emitting Electrode
Tumbling Hammer -CE
Emitting & Collecting Electrodes
Forces on Particle
• Electrical forces holding the dust layer have been studied by Penney and Klingler. The
magnitude of the electrical forces is given by.

[{jρЄ1/Є0}2 –{(V-jρt)/(s-t)}2]
Єo- Permittivity of free space, Є1- Permittivity of dust layer, j – Current density,
ρ – Dust Resistivity, v – Voltage, t – Dust layer thickness, s – Inter-electrode spacing

• Van der Waals’ forces between the particles comprising the dust layer

• Gravitational Force on particle

Rapping Mechanism
 Voltage- Current Curves of ESP
PRECIPITATOR CURRENT-VOLTAGE CURVES

Precipitator Curent [ milli- 1000

800
Amps]

600

400

200

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Precipitator Voltage [ KV]

C-1 C-2 C-3 Normal C-4

Analysis & Results
Field Before After
Ave. Voltage Ave. Current Valley Voltage Peak Voltage Ave. Voltage Ave. Current Valley Vollage Peak Voltage
(Kv) (MA) (Kv) (Kv) (Kv) (MA) (Kv) (Kv)
1 38 236 31 54 36 266 29 53
2 42 00 40 43 44 079 40 49
3 37 00 37 38 43 207 39 51
4 37 020 31 39 41 177 41 47
5 00 00 00 00 32 325 27 46

P R E C I P I T A T O R C U R R E N T - V O LT A G E C U R V E S P R E C I P I T A T O R C U R R E N T - V O LT A G E C U R V E S
P re c ip it a t o r C u re n t

P re c ip it at o r C u re n t
[ m illi- A m p s ]
[ m illi-A m p s ]

400 400

200 200

0 0
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Pre cipitator Voltage [ KV] Precipitator Voltage [ KV]

Field 8 Field 9

V-I Curve for the field 3 & 4

Field 1 & 2 – Internal Inspection
Field 3,4 & 5 – Internal Inspection
Thank You