Use of Membrane Collectors in Electrostatic Precipitators

Abstract

Membrane collection surfaces, developed and patented by researchers at Ohio University, were used to replace steel plates in a dry electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Such replacement facilitates tension-based rapping, which shears the adhered particle layer from the collector surface more effectively than hammer-based rapping. Tests were performed to measure the collection efficiency of the membranes and to quantify the potential improvements of this novel cleaning technique with respect to re-entrainment. Results indicate that even semiconductor materials (e.g., carbon fibers) collect ash nearly as efficiently as steel plates, potentially indicating that collection surface resistivity is primarily dictated by the accumulated ash layer and not by the underlying plate conductivity. In addition, virtually all sheared particles separated from the collecting membranes fell within the boundary layer of the membrane, indicating extremely low potential for re-entrainment.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Ash Handling; Membranes; Plates (Structural Components); Steel Structures; Membrane Collectors; Electrostatic Separators; Carbon Fiber; Steel; Adhesion; Article; Ash; Boundary Layer; Cleaning; Conductance; Electricity; Membrane; Precipitation; Priority Journal; Semiconductor; Shear Rate; Surface Tension

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1096-2247

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2001 Air and Waste Management Association, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2001

Link to Full Text

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