Finite volume method for calculation of electrostatic fields in electrostatic precipitators

This paper presents a numerical method for calculation of coupled electric and space-charge density fields in electrostatic precipitators. It is based on the finite volume discretization of the solution domain by arbitrary polyhedral control volumes and employs an iterative segregated solution procedure of the resulting set of algebraic equations, amounting to a simple, accurate and efficient numerical technique. The method is tested on a number of cases for which analytical solution, numerical and/or experimental results exist. Also, shown are the results of calculation of a 3D model of electrostatic precipitator with spike discharge electrodes.