Recent advancements in the physical modelling of electrostatic precipitators

Within the frame of the research program on flue gas treatment of thermal power plants, ENEL (ltalian Electricity Board) has started to develop a comprehensive mathematical model for the simulation of the operating conditions of large scale electrostatic precipitators. The model, completely modular, will enable time-resolved simulations of electrostatic precipitation phenomena, taking into account all the relevant electric and transport processes, which occur inside the precipitator. Each specific process (e.g. corona discharge, particle charging, particle collection, rapping, reentrainment, etc.) is represented by a self-consistent mathematical model based entirely on the relevant physical laws. Laboratory measurements on test cells under controlled conditions will be used both to obtain necessary basic information and for the separate validation of each module. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.