Submicron particle agglomeration by an electrostatic agglomerator

The new-type electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was proposed to elevate the collection efficiency for submicron-sized particles in exhausted gas from a fine-grained coal-burning boiler. This ESP is combined with an electrostatic agglomeration apparatus (EAA). This paper firstly describes the basic concept and structure of this new-type ESP. Secondly, this paper describes the theoretical and measured agglomeration operation. Finally, this paper describes the theoretical collection efficiency of the new-type model ESP. A measured weight percentage of submicron-sized particles under 1 μm decreased 20% and a mean diameter of aerosol particles increased to four times of that at an inlet when an EAA was used. The new-type ESP is expected to increase the collection efficiency from 95 to 98% due to a calculation of the collection efficiency using the measured agglomeration particle-size distribution in the range of 0.06–12 μm.