Numerical modeling of nanoparticle collection efficiency of single-stage wire-in-plate electrostatic precipitators

The numerical models for predicting the collection efficiency of particles in the size range of 0.3 ∼ 10.0 m in electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) have been well developed. However, for nanoparticles, or particles with the diameter below 100 nm, the existing models can't predict the collection efficiency very well because the electric field and ion concentration distribution were not simulated, or charging models were not adopted appropriately to calculate particle charges. In this study, a 2-D numerical model was developed to predict the nanoparticle collection efficiency in single-stage wire-in-plate ESPs. Laminar flow field was solved by using the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equation (SIMPLER Method), while electric field strength and ion concentration distribution were solved based on Poisson and diffusion-convection equations, respectively. The charged particle concentration distribution and the particle collection efficiency were then calculated based on the convection-diffusion equation with particle charging calculated by Fuchs diffusion charging theory. The simulated collection efficiencies of 6-100 nm nanoparticles were compared with the experimental data of Huang and Chen (2002) for a wire-in-plate dry ESP (aerosol flow rate: 100 L/min, applied voltage: -15.5 ∼ -21.5 kV). Good agreement was obtained. The simulated particle collection efficiencies were further shown to agree with the experimental data obtained in the study for a wire-in-plate wet ESP (Lin et al. 2010) (aerosol flow rate: 5 L/min, applied voltage: +3.6 ∼ +4.3 kV) using monodisperse NaCl particles of 10 and 50 nm in diameter. It is expected that the present model can be used to facilitate the design of ESPs for nanoparticle control and electrostatic nanoparticle samplers.