Capture of fine particles on charged moving spheres: a new electrostatic precipitator

It was verified experimentally that electrostatic cleanup of fly ash dust is possible using the scrubbing action of charged copper particles with diameters 10-100 times the size of the dust particles. Results show that target efficiencies in excess of unity (up to 1.8) are possible as a result of the induced charge on the target particles. Power consumption to the precipitator was confirmed to be very small (~5×10^-4 W). Values of the total collection efficiency of 0.65 (65%) were obtained for a precipitator zone length of 1.2 cm (in the direction of air flow) at air velocities of about 3 cm/s. This value decreased with increasing air flow rate. Collection efficiencies up to 0.99 (99%) are projected with a longer test section of at least 5.3 cm in length for low air velocities of about 3 cm/s, an electric field strength of 10.91 kV/cm, and 114.5 μm copper particles