Adhesive Behavior of Dust in Electrostatic Precipitation

Abstract

In 2-stage precipitators particles are driven to the collecting plates by electrostatic forces but then the electrostatic force reverses and tends to pull the particles off so that dust is held on the collecting electrodes only by adhesion. In Cottrell or single-stage precipitators the corona current can provide a significant force tending to hold the collected dust to the electrode provided that the resistivity of the dust is 10¹⁰ ohm-cm or more. Adhesion is still essential in the collection of lower resistivity dust and is of vital importance in the transfer of dust from the collecting electrodes to the hopper. As the dust falls from the plates to the hopper it must be held in agglomerations or chunks. There are many peculiarities in the adhesive behavior of electrostatically collected dust. A better understanding of this adhesive behavior is essential if we are to improve the transfer of dust from the collecting electrodes to the hopper.