Behavior of polydisperse dust in electrostatic precipitators

Continuous upgrading of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) is forced by more and more strict dust emission requirements limiting emission level below 30 mg/m3N and regulations for PM 10 and PM 2.5. In order to fulfil the required improvement of ESPs both the numerical model computations and laboratory and in situ measurements have to be carried out. Therefore, our existing numerical model (worked out on the basis of the co-operation of experts of high-voltage engineering and experts of fluid mechanics) had to be upgraded from a monodisperse, steady state model into a polydisperse one. The paper represents the new development of our ESP model, the theoretical background and its structure. Results of calculation are also presented to compare differences between monodisperse and polydisperse cases.