Particulates removal by electrostatic precipitation in a small scale biomass combustion stove

Abstract

In this study, an electrostatic precipitator has been designed using a concentric cylindrical geometry which can easily by retro-fitted into a small scale combustion stove. The configuration is such that the high voltage electrode is positioned along the centreline and the outer diameter is at ground potential. Voltages up typically 50kV are applied which generate negative corona ions and by a collision process the combustion particles become negatively charged and migrate to the outer cylinder where they are collected. A previous study (currently in review) analysed the dynamics of the precipitator using MATLAB software. It was assumed the gas flow was laminar and the trajectories were determined by solving all the forces acting on a combustion particle. In this current study an extra component has been included consisting of the corona wind which is dependent on the mobility of the ions produced in the exhaust gasses. The exact nature of these ions is unknown and hence a range of mobility values have been included. The particulate trajectories all show the precipitator efficiency is increased by including the extra component. It has been observed that the flue gas flow rate is the most important factor in comparison to other parameters related to the biomass properties. (4 pages)