Numerical study on PM10 collection efficiency in a wire-cylinder electrostatic precipitator under multi-field coupling

Abstract

The PM10 collection efficiency of a wire-cylinder electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was studied by means of a developed mathematical model, including the multi-field coupling between the gas flow field, the particle dynamic field and the electric field, and applying the Deutsch–Anderson Equation. The diffusion charging mechanism was considered due to the diameter range of PM10. The investigated variables were the applied potential, the gas velocity and the particle distribution. Numerical results indicate that the diffusion charging has significant influence on PM10 removal performance and the effect is more obvious with the decreasing diameter, and that the PM10 collection efficiency increases with the increasing applied potential and the increment of collection efficiency is more significant at lower voltage. Moreover, as the gas velocity at inlet decreases, collection efficiency of PM10 will increase. Finally, the overall efficiency increases with increasing the mean diameter of particle distribution. The research results can provide theoretical and technical references for the design of novel ESP aiming at economy and environment protection.