Comparative Analysis Between Cylindrical-Type Electrostatic Precipitators Used in Household Applications

Abstract

It is well known that micrometre-sized particulate matter from burning boilers represents an important health hazard for humans and animals. In this article, a few designs of cylindrical-type electrostatic precipitators (an element has a 354 mm-long aluminium cylinder with 40 mm inner diameter without and with reduced cross-section; 0.16 mm diameter for copper discharge wire) that can be used at the output of household low-power boilers (up to 50 kW) that burn coal are investigated. Negative DC high-voltage energisation (up to 14 kV) and negative pulsed energisation (up to 15 kV at different frequencies: 120, 200, and 280 Hz, using a mechanical rotary spark-gap) of the designs of electrostatic precipitators was provided to measure current and voltage shapes, current through precipitators at different speeds of gas, and dust collection when single or multiple disperser at the inlet of precipitators. A chemical analysis, electrical resistivity, and radioactivity of the collected dust are investigated. The experimental results about collection efficiency with different types of precipitator supplied with DC high-voltage and high-voltage pulses show the collection efficiency was better (2 to 13%, depending on the type of the precipitator and the input distributors) for precipitators with reduced cross-section of the collecting electrode and when the same type of precipitator in conditions of dust that has high electric resistivity.