Role of fluid mechanics in electrostatic precipitator design

The performance of electrostatic precipitators may be substantially improved by reducing the magnitude and/or length scale of corona induced secondary flows and turbulence. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) theory indicates that the electrode geometry and the structure of the corona discharge are critical factors in determining the character of the electrically generated flow. As a first step toward quantifying the benefits to be expected from a modification in the conventional wire-plate geometry, the electrical and fluid dynamical characteristics of a novel barbed plate-to-collector plate precipitator are experimentally investigated. Results show that the current distribution is nearly uniform in the barbed plate geometry and confirm that the electrode geometry has a significant role in secondary flow and turbulence production. Work is in progress to determine if particle collection efficiencies can be improved through the use of the planar geometry.