A numerical model of an electrostatic precipitator

This paper presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model for a wire-plate electrostatic precipitator (ESP). The turbulent gas flow and the particle motion under electrostatic forces are modelled using the CFD code FLUENT. Numerical calculations for the gas flow are carried out by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and turbulence is modelled using the k-ε turbulence model. An additional source term is added to the gas flow equation to capture the effect of electric field. This additional source term is obtained by solving a coupled system of the electric field and charge transport equations. The particle phase is simulated by using Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The results of the simulation are presented showing the particle trajectory inside the ESP under the influence of both aerodynamic and electrostatic forces. The simulated results have been validated by the established data. The model developed is useful to gain insight into the particle collection phenomena that takes place inside an industrial ESP.