Filtration Characteristics of a Miniature Electrostatic Precipitator

This study investigates the filtration characteristics of a miniature dual saw-like electrodes electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Parameters such as particle size, rate of airflow through the ESP, voltage of charge electrode, and discharge polarity were considered to study their influence on aerosol penetration through the ESP. Polydisperse and monodisperse particles with sizes ranging from 30 nm to 10 w m were used as the challenge aerosols. Experimental results indicated that the aerosol penetration through the ESP decreased (from 96% to 15% for 0.3 w m) as the voltage of the discharge electrode increased (from + 4 kV to +8 kV) at a flow rate of 30 L/min. At a fixed electrode voltage (+8 kV), aerosol penetration increased from 15% to 69% for 0.3 w m particles as the flow rate increased from 30 to 120 L/min. The most penetrating particle size was in the range of 0.25 w m to 0.5 w m depending on the discharge voltage and the flow rate. In general, the most penetrating particle size of the ESP decreased with decreasing discharge voltage or with increasing flow rate. At the same voltage level but opposite polarity, the aerosol penetration through the ESP with negative corona was lower than that with positive corona. The difference in aerosol penetration was a factor of about 2 between the negative and positive coronas for 0.3 w m particles, and this difference was found to be independent of discharge voltage. Regarding energy conservation, use of a negative-polarity ESP was more economical if the same efficiency was required. However, the ozone generated by the ESP with negative polarity was about five times greater than that generated with positive polarity. Therefore when using an ESP as an indoor air cleaner, the search for an optimum balance between ozone production and aerosol collection efficiency should be considered.