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Abstract Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are considered as cost-effective technology for separating the charged particle from flue gas. In this paper, a modified ESP model was developed to investigate the effects of charged particle on the electric field, ion density, particle charging and migration regarding various particle concentrations. Coupled processes of corona discharge, flow field, particle charging and transport were considered. Results showed that the particle space charge presented trajectory-dependent effects on the distributions of electric field and ion density in the gas flow direction. With the particle concentration increasing from 0 to 200 mg/m3, the electric field strength on the electrode surface was inhibited from 1.32 × 106 to 1.24 × 106 V/m, while the electric field strength on the plate surface was raised from 7.1 × 105 to 8.3 × 105 V/m. By contrast, the ion density within the whole domain decreased when particle space charge considered, and it decreased by more than 40% when the particle concentration was 50 mg/m3. The particle charging rate decreased due to particle space charge effects and consequently the overall particle charge decreased by 45.7% as particle concentration increased to 200 mg/m3. The correlation between collection efficiency and corona current was discussed, and it showed that the two didn't vary synchronously with the increasing concentration. A criterion for efficiency deterioration, under corona suppression conditions, was first proposed for instructing ESP design and operation. Graphical abstracts Unlabelled Image Highlights • A modified ESP model was established to study the particle space charge effects. • Corona discharge, flow field, particle charging and transport were coupled. • Correlation between corona current and collection efficiency was analyzed. • A criterion for ESP performance deterioration was first proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of electrode configuration on corona discharge and particle collection from 300 K to 900 K. Electrodes of different shapes (rod, saw, and screw), diameters (3, 5, and 8 mm), and intervals (55, 110, and 165 mm) were tested in an experimental-scale electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Results showed that a high current was generated with a saw electrode and increased the particle collection efficiency, particularly for fine particles (diameter smaller than 0.1 μm), with the best particle collection efficiency being 99.8% at 300 K. However, with an increase in temperature, the rod electrode obtained an applied voltage higher than those of other electrode types and, as a result, generated relatively high particle collection efficiencies at 700 K and 900 K. Increasing the electrode diameter from 3 mm to 5 mm improved the applied voltage, whereas increasing this diameter from 5 mm to 8 mm reduced the discharge current. Among electrodes with different diameters, the electrode with a diameter of 5 mm achieved the best particle collection efficiency (87.4%) at 900 K. The applied voltages of the electrodes with different intervals were almost similar, but the discharge currents varied significantly. The best particle collection efficiencies were achieved by the electrode with an interval of 55 mm at 300 K and 500 K, but at 700 K and 900 K, the electrode with an interval of 110 mm obtained the best result. The interval between electrodes should be expanded with an increase in temperature to avoid the offsetting of electric field between neighboring electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature ESPs are proposed to improve energy efficiency and avoid damage to downstream equipment in integrated gasification combined cycle and pressurized fluidized-bed combustion. In this study, the effects of temperature and pressure on negative corona discharge characteristics were compared. Gas temperature varied from 373 K to 1073 K, and pressure varied from 30 kPa to 100 kPa to achieve the same gas density. The additional corona current Δ I t induced by high temperature was calculated, and the additional ion current Δ I i and electron current Δ I e were studied. A wire-type electrode, a spiral electrode, a ribbon electrode, and four gas compositions (N 2 /CO 2 /SO 2 /air) were investigated in the plate-type discharge configuration. Results show that corona current increases more rapidly with increasing gas temperature than that with decreasing pressure at the same gas density. The current density is 0.87 mA/m at 973 K and atmosphere pressure, which is higher than 0.45 mA/m at 30.9 kPa and room temperature. An additional temperature effect on corona discharge is proposed apart from the decrease of gas density as temperature increases. Δ I t increases with increasing temperature because of enhanced molecule kinetic energy and ionization rate. The electron-carried current is important at temperatures above 873 K. Δ I e /Δ I t increases from 0 to 0.941 when temperature increases from 773 K to 973 K. Compared with the Δ I t of wire and spiral electrodes, the Δ I t of ribbon electrode is significantly larger because of the enhanced electron avalanche and secondary electron emission. Negative corona discharge does not occur in N 2 , and corona onset voltages are in the following sequence: CO 2 > SO 2 (6000 ppm) > air, which is determined by gas molecule ionization energy. Δ I t / I P is smaller in gas atmosphere with strong electronegativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature electrostatic precipitators for removing dust from fuel or flue gases were proposed to improve energy efficiency or to avoid damaging downstream equipment. This paper attempts to provide a comprehensive understanding of negative DC corona discharges and find ways to increase corona stability at high temperatures. The characteristics of corona discharges were studied in a wire–plate discharge configuration under different discharge gaps and electrode geometries at temperatures ranging from 293 K to 1173 K. The V – I characteristics were analyzed, including corona onset/spark voltages, operating voltage ranges, and corona current compositions. The discharge current density increases as the temperature increases, and the electron-carried current becomes significant at high temperatures. For example, the electron-carried current makes up ∼40% of the total discharge current at 1073 K under an applied voltage of 10 kV. The applied voltage range decreases as the temperature increases. The corona discharges become unstable, and localized breakdowns occur frequently when the temperature exceeds 1073 K and the discharge gap is less than 50 mm, because the ionization coefficient and the number of electrons greatly increase. The operating voltage range increases from 8.2 kV to 13.6 kV at 1073 K when the discharge gap increases from 30 mm to 70 mm. Compared with the wire and spiral electrodes, the ribbon electrodes produce sparks more easily. The wire diameter has little influence on the spark voltage and corona stability at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe current reduction and a significant drop in collection efficiency appear when containing ultrafine particles. In this study, a comprehensive model was developed to investigate the role of optimizing the corona wire arrangement in the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) performance enhancement. The total current increased initially and then decreased with the increase in wire-wire distance (without PM 0.1). The decrease in the wire-plate distance could enhance the corona discharge. The collection efficiencies for 1, 2.5, and 5 μm enhanced by 58.1%, 45.2%, and 37.4% when the wire-plate distance decreased from 300 mm to 100 mm (without PM 0.1), respectively. Compared with the wire-wire distance optimization, the ESP performance enhancement was more obvious for wire-plate distance optimization when containing ultrafine particles. The collection efficiency of 5 μm particles could increase by 323.2% when the PM 0.1 concentration reached 50 mg/m3. Meanwhile, some potential methods were proposed to improve ESP performance in treating ultrafine particles. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive model considered particle space-charge was developed. • The role of corona wire arrangement in corona discharge and particle motion was quantified. • Variation of ESP performance when containing ultrafine particles was analyzed. • Some potential methods were proposed to relieve corona suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel-designed current measurement system contained 171 probes was designed. • The evolution of electric characteristics under various conditions was analyzed. • The current density distribution along the airflow direction was presented. • Some suggestions for relieving corona suppression were proposed. The high emission of SO 3 or sulfuric acid aerosol became a new environmental issue and has attracted international concerns. The sulfuric acid aerosol could be removed through droplet charging and transportation in the electric field. However, the charged droplets also have a converse effect on the electrostatic field. In this study, a novel-designed current measurement system contained 171 probes was designed to automatically scan and record the current density distribution along the airflow direction. Results show that the average current density was reduced by 31.3 % when SO 3 concentration was increased from 0 to 53.6 mg/m3, and the current density of the first electrode was only accounted for 11.3 % of the original current. A higher corona onset voltage was required to ionize the flue gas because of a reverse electric field formed by the charged droplets. The current density was also decreased with the flue gas velocity under the SO 3 presence condition. When the flue gas velocity reached 4 m/s, the corona suppression was severe and the inflection point was no longer obvious. The region that the relative current density below 0.6 was comprised 70 %. The current density could be enhanced by increasing the spike length and decreasing the spike spacing. The larger the corona current of the discharge electrode, the less the effect of the particle space-charge. Meanwhile, some suggestions for relieving corona suppression by enhancing the corona discharge at the inlet and promoting the droplet growth were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A modified wet ESP model was established to study the particle space-charge effect. • The role of ultrafine particles in collection performance was investigated. • A combined wet ESP was developed and compared with the common wet ESP. • The correlation between precharging and particle charging was analyzed. • The contribution of precharging to particle precipitation was quantified. The collection performance of wet electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) considerably deteriorates in the presence of ultrafine particles, which confer difficulties in realizing the ultra-low emission of particulate matter (PM). In this work, the use of a wet ESP combined with a perforated precharger was proposed to investigate its electrical and collection characteristics in flue gas containing ultrafine particles and compared these characteristics with those of the common wet ESP. Results indicated that the distributions of ion density and electric field were affected by ultrafine particle loadings. With increased PM 0.1 concentration from 0 mg/m3 to 100 mg/m3, the average ion density of the common wet ESP decreased by more than two orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, the particle charging and transport performance deteriorated, even for large particles (10 μm), and migration velocity sharply decreased by more than 85 %. The corona electrostatic field was significantly improved by installing the precharger. The combined wet ESP can be operated well even under problematic conditions. Additional electrons were generated by the corona discharge of the precharger, which contributed to subsequent particle capture. When the applied voltage of the precharger exceeded 15 kV, the electrostatic precipitation of 1 μm particles only slightly weakened with increased PM 0.1 concentration to 40 mg/m3, and the capture of >5 μm-diameter particles was nearly unaffected by ultrafine particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) separate particles from flue gas by corona discharge and accompany by the generation of ionic wind. In this work, a Computational Fluid Dynamics model was presented to investigate the effects of ionic wind on flow field and particle precipitation in a honeycomb ESP in terms of the coupled processes among corona discharge, gas flow, particle charging and transport. Results indicated that the electric field and ion charge density around the needle tips were highest and respectively reach 2.5 × 106 V/m and 0.164 C/m3 in the gas without suspended particles, which played a key role in corona-electrostatic field. The maximum velocity of ionic wind could reach 13.81, 11.74 and 9.42 m/s under the applied voltage of 27, 21 and 15 kV, and ionic wind velocity sharply decreased away from the needle tip. Meanwhile, the flow field could be divided into three regions (ionic wind affected region, vortex and back flow region) according to the direction of gas flow velocity. When the electrically neutral particles with a spherical shape were injected into ESP at the entrance, the charged particles were transported by drag force and electric force, and inhomogeneous distribution of the deposited particle has occurred because of ionic wind. More intense vortices were formed with the increase in applied voltage, and promoting the particle precipitation process. Moreover, higher applied voltage enhanced the aggregation of particles in the upstream, and reduced the dead zone of deposited particles in the downstream. The ionic wind generated by corona discharge strongly disturbed the flow field and particle precipitation process. Image 1 • A 3D spike-honeycomb ESP model was established to study the role of ionic wind. • The distributed pattern of the electric field and ion charge were investigated. • High velocity ionic wind was generated near the tips and could reach 13.81 m/s. • The flow field of gas phase was divided into three regions because of ionic wind. • The correlation between the ionic wind and particle precipitation were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-temperature electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is a potentially efficient method for hot-gas cleaning in advanced technologies, e.g., the coal-staged conversion poly-generation system and IGCC. This paper investigates the characteristics of the ash layer on the internal surface of the anode pipe of a wire–cylinder ESP at temperatures ranging from 350 °C to 700 °C, including ash deposition forms, growth of ash layer and the effect of ash layer on back corona discharge. There are four typical ash deposition forms: the belt form, the slope with ribs form, the slope form and the slope with a thick bottom edge form. Ash layer thickness generally decreases with increasing height. When T ⩽ 500 °C, ash belts form under low port voltages, and with increasing port voltage, they will overlap each other to form ash ribs. When T ⩾ 500 °C, particles are deposited in the smooth slope form if the port voltage is great enough. When T ⩾ 700 °C, a thick bottom ash edge occurs. Ash deposition forms can vary under different operating conditions. As the operating time increases, the thickness growth rate at a given point decreases, and the ash layer height increases because of the repulsive electrical force between the ash layer and the particles. Back corona discharge always occurs on the thickest portion of the ash layer first. The back corona discharge onset voltage decreases nearly linearly with increasing ash layer thickness, from 19,787 V to 17,197 V as the maximum thickness of the ash layer increases from 0.34 to 2.02 mm when T = 500 °C, U p = 17,200 V and m in = 650 mg/N m 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental-scale electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was built to investigate the characteristics of corona discharge, particle migration, and particle collection at various temperatures ranging from 300 K to 900 K. The variations in particle collection efficiencies and migration velocities with temperature, applied voltage, current density, energy consumption density, particle concentration, and flue gas velocity were obtained. Both onset and spark voltages decreased with an increase in temperature and resulted in a decrease in particle collection efficiency and particle migration velocity. At the same voltage, a large current was generated at high temperature; particle charging was enhanced, and high particle collection efficiencies and particle migration velocities were obtained. At the same current and energy consumption densities, the particle collection efficiencies decreased because of the low electric field intensity. The increase in particle concentration was favorable to particle collection and improved the particle migration velocities. The increase in flue gas velocity reduced the particle collection efficiencies and had minimal influence on the particle migration velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pulsed corona discharge is an efficient method on NO oxidization, and the investigation of the oxidization process is significant both for model validation and industrial application. In-situ visualization of NO and OH in pulsed corona discharge was performed by planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) in this work. Two dimensional NO oxidization and OH consumption were studied under different conditions. Some significant results were obtained for mixing behaviors of NO oxidization process. The NO oxidization rate and OH consumption increased by 22% and 40%, respectively, as the Re number of additional gas flow increased from 1379 to 4138. The OH utilization ratio was defined to describe the effect of OH radicals on NO oxidization process. It is demonstrated that OH plays an important role on NO oxidization. The NO reaction and OH consumption zone has a good consistent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]