A new method to evaluate the voltage–current characteristics applicable for a single-stage electrostatic precipitator

A new computational scheme was developed to evaluate current–voltage characteristics of a wire–plate high-voltage configuration system applicable for single-stage electrostatic precipitators. This new approach is based on the fact that increasing applied voltage increases the corona sheath radius. The advantage of this new model compared to previous ones is that the model is capable of computing the rate of corona sheath radius augmentation. Ion charge density at corona edge was calculated by using a new equation, which was developed by dimensional analysis. Also, by using this new model the number of grid points and hence CPU computation time is greatly reduced. The experimental data reported by Cooperman (IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. IA-17 (2) (1981) 236), Penny and Mitick (Trans. Am. Inst. Electron. Eng. 1 (79) (1960) 91) and McDonald et al. (J. Appl. Phys. 48 (6) (1977) 2231) was used to validate the model. The calculated results and experimental data are in good agreement.