A mathematical model of electrostatic field in wires-plate electrostatic precipitators

A mathematical model of electrical field strength and space-charge density in an electrostatic precipitator is presented, The model is based upon the time-dependent, linearized equations derived from the classical electrostatic equations on two-dimensional domain. A finite difference method was used to solve numerically the balance equations. An orthogonal body-fitted coordinate system, calculated by means of a mixed algebraic numerical method, was chosen to discretize the equations. The grid selected has the advantage to adjust the nodal spacing over the domain to obtain both good accuracy and economic computer CPU time. Numerical results are compared with available literature data. Extension of the model to more complicated wire systems is also outlined and some numerical results are shown.