Air Filtration by Electrostatic Precipitators

Oleg Systems Co. make all types of industrial dustmaterials will vary with the material, plant process,
collection systems. Dust collecting equipment isquantity involved and the collector design. Dry
available in numerous designs utilizing a number ofcollectors can be unloaded continuously or in
principles and featuring wide variation inbatches through dump gates, trickle valves and
effectiveness, initial cost, operating androtary locks to conveyors or containers. Wet
maintenance expense, space, arrangements andcollectors can be arranged for batch removal or
material of construction.continual ejection of dewatered material by flight
Factors influencing dust collection equipmentconveyors or draining as a slurry. Material
selection include:characteristics can influence other problems, such
* Concentration and particle size of contaminant.as packing and bridging of dry materials in dust
  In most dust conveying systems, usual dusthoppers, floating of slurry forming characteristics
range from 0.1 to 100 micron - a rather widein wet collectors, etc.
range of particle sizes.One of the most efficient type of dust collectors
* Degree of collection required.is Electrostatic Precipitator.
  Evaluation will consider the need for highThe principle of dust collection relies on the ability
efficiency high cost equipment such asto impart a negative charge to particles in the gas
electrostatic precipirators; high efficiencystream causing them to move and adhere to the
moderate cost equipment such as fabric or wetgrounded or positively charged collector plates.
collector units; and the lower cost primary unitsMost precipitators are made for horizontal air flow
such as the dry centrifugal group. Degree of dustwith velocities 100 to 600 fpm. The collecting
collection required can depend on plant location;plates or electrodes are parallel elements, usually
compariosn of quantities of material released toon 9-inch centers, and constructed in various
atmoshere with different type of dust collectors;ways including corrugated or perforated plates for
nature of contaminant - its salvage value or itsrod curtains. The electrode rods are centered
potential as a health hazard, public nuissance orbetween the collector plates. Volatge difference
ability to damage property - and the requirementsbetween electrode and plate is 60,000 to 75,000
of the local or state air pollution regulations.volts in most designs. Collector plates of cylindrical
* Characteristics of air or gas stream.shapes surrounding the electrode tod are provided
  High temperature gas streams exceeding 180 Fwhere water is used to wash off collected
will prevent the use of standard cotton media inmaterial and where the gas stream is under high
fabric collectors; presence of steam orpressure or vacuum.
condensation of water vapor will cause packlingRemoval of the collected material is obtained by
and plugging of air or dust packages in fabric andrapping or vibrating the elements either
dry centrifugal collectors. Chemical compositioncontinuously or at predetermined intervals.
can attack fabric or metal in dry collectors andVibration or unloading usually takes place without
cause extremely corrosive conditions when mixedstopping air flow through the cleaning cycle.
with water in wet type collectors.Pressure drop is low. Collection efficiency is high
* Characteristics of contaminant.and nearly uniform regardless of particle size
  Chemical composition can cause attack on dustincluding sub-micron particles. Space is relatively
collector elements or corrosion in wet type dustlarge and cost is high where small gas volumed
collectors. Sticky materials like metallic buffing dust(below 50,000 CFM) are involved due to the cost
impregnated with buffing compounds can adhereof high voltage electrical equipment. Efficiency is
to collector elements plugging dust collectorimproved with increased humidity of the air
passages. Linty materials such as dust fromstream as a change takes palce in the dielectric
textile opener, picker and napper will adhere toproperties of the dust. Heavy concentrations, on
certain types of collector surfaces or elements.the other hand, cause a reduction in collection as
Abrasiveness of many materials in moderate tothe space chatge on numerous particles blankets
heavy concentrations such as dust from sandthe corona effect from the electrode.
blasting will cause rapid wear particularly on dryElectrostatic precipitators have been extensively
type centrifugal collectors. Particles size and shapeused in high temperature gas cleaning from
will rule out certain collector designs. Theequipment such as blast furnaces, open heart
parashute shape of particles such as "bees wings"furnaces and central station pulverized fuel boilers.
from grain will "float" through centrifugal collectorsThe chemical industry has many applications
due to their velocity of fall being slower thanincluding sulfuric acids plants, carbon black, cement
much smaller spherical particles of the samekilns and soda sh from paper mill black liquor
specific gravity. Combustible nature of many finelyfurnaces. As voltage setting is close to the
divided materials will influence selection ofspark-over potential, application is limited to
explosion proof dust collectors for such products.materials that are not explosive or combustible in
* Methods of disposal.nature unless the carrier gas stream is an inert
  Methods of removal and disposal of collectedgas.