Simulation of the electric field in wire-plate type electrostatic precipitators

• A finite volume method for the simulation of wire-plate type electric field.
• A general injection law for charge density is presented.
• The effect of needle sharpness is investigated.
• Electric field for barbed wire electrode is well characterized and optimized.

The paper presents a general Control Volume model for electric field simulation in wire-plate type electrostatic precipitators, along with a new injection law for charge density. The model is validated against empirical equations and experimental data in the literature when applied to the wire-plate and point-plate configurations. The voltage current characteristics and detailed distribution of field and charge density are characterized, particularly for the case of barbed wire electrode. The effects of geometric variations, such as the sharpness of the tip and the direction of the needles with respect to the plate, are investigated.

In a barbed wire-plate electrostatic precipitator, the dust layer forms a regular pattern that is linked to the electric current distribution. The figures show clearly how the current density pattern changes when the barbed wire rotates 90°. This can potentially improve the collection efficiency.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide