Experimental study of the collection efficiency of three configurations of blades-plates-type electrostatic precipitators.

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the influence of electrode configuration on corona discharge and particle collection under ambient climatic conditions in Blade-to-Plane Electrostatic Precipitator (BP-ESP). In an experimental-scale electrostatic precipitator (BP-ESP), electrodes of different shapes (blade, saw blade with small tooth, and saw blade with large tooth) were tested. The experiments were performed with three types of dust particles having a mean size of about 5 µm, 10 µm, and 45 µm. An aerosol spectrometer was used to characterize the chemical composition of these dust particles injected into the ESP. Different DC-applied voltages have been taken into account for both positive and negative polarities. Results showed that a high current was generated with a saw blade electrode with large teeth which increased the particle collection efficiency, for both polarities. The negative corona discharge is overall more effective than the positive one for the different configurations of electrodes and dust particles used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]