How does a precipitator work?

Description. An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) removes particles from a gas stream by using electrical energy to charge particles either positively or negatively. The charged particles are then attracted to collector plates carrying the opposite charge.

Where is electrostatic precipitator is installed?

If an ESP is installed as part of the flue gas cleaning system, it is located between the induced draught fan and the combustion chamber.

Where are electrostatic precipitators used?

Originally designed for recovery of valuable industrial-process materials, electrostatic precipitators are used for air pollution control, particularly for removing harmful particulate matter from waste gases at industrial facilities and power-generating stations.

How does ESP work in power plant?

A dry electrostatic precipitator (ESP) electrically charges the ash particles and imparts a strong electric field in the flue gas to collect and remove them. An ESP is comprised of a series of parallel, vertical metallic plates (collecting electrodes) forming lanes through which the flue gas passes.

What pollutants do electrostatic precipitators remove?

Electrostatic precipitators can help in air pollution control. They remove fine particulate matter like ash, dust, and soot from exhaust fumes. This is especially useful for power stations that rely on fossil fuels like coal or oil to generate electricity.

What attracts soot?

[1] Since unlike charges attract, the negatively charged soot particles are attracted to the positively charged plates and stick there. Dirty air moves past negatively charged wires (shown as −ve) so the soot particles pick up a negative charge.

How effective are electrostatic precipitators?

Effectiveness. Electrostatic precipitators are extremely effevtive, and are capable of removing more than 99% of particulate matter. Since 1940, emissions of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers have been reduced by a factor of 5.

What are the disadvantages of electrostatic precipitator?

Electrostatic precipitators have a high initial capital cost, which makes it prohibitive for small-scale industries. They are expensive to purchase and install. In addition to being costly, they require large space to be set up.

What are the advantages of electrostatic precipitator?

Advantages of electrostatic precipitator: It can be used for the collection of both dry and wet impurities. It has low operating costs. The collection efficiency of the device is high even for small particles. It can handle large gas volumes and heavy dust loads at low pressures.

What is corona power in ESP?

Corona power ratio is the ratio of power consumed in watts to the airflow in cubic feet per minute. This tells us about the energy consumed in filtering one cubic foot of air per minute. The corona power ratio affects the efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator.

How much does a precipitator cost?

These precipitators are made using high-alloy stainless steels and typically cost $90 to $120/ft2.

How do you get rid of soot?

General directions. Soot particles can be very fine and you may cause further damage by trying to brush them away. Instead, use the nozzle attachment of the vacuum cleaner to pick up the residue. Sprinkle talcum powder over the area to absorb the stain, rub in lightly, then vacuum away the deposit.

What is an Electrical Precipitator?

The electrical precipitator is a dry dust or liquid mist removal unit which utilizes the ionization of the process gas (usually air) to impart electrical charges on the suspended entrained particles and effect particle collection by attraction to an oppositely charged plate or pipe.

Can electrostatic precipitators be used for home use?

Electrostatic precipitators for home use can collect dust, mold spores, and other large particles, but at much lower efficiencies than a HEPA filter. And as the plates become dirty, this efficiency drops further.

How does a plate precipitator work?

The most common and basic type of device is a plate precipitator. This device contains an initial row of vertical wires, which gives the particles a charge, while the following plates are used to collect and hold the particles. This two-stage design (charging then collection) reduces ozone production, which can be harmful when inhaled.

How effective are electrostatic precipitators at removing ash from the air?

According to the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, electrostatic precipitators remove over 99% of ash particles. In general, the larger the precipitator, the more effective they will be at removing particles from the air.