Electrohydrodynamic Precipitator Flow with a Barbed Plate Discharge Electrode

Abstract

The nonuniform corona discharge in the wire-plate electrostatic precipitator results in a rotational electric body force which is a source of large-scale secondav flows and turbulence within the flow channel. The electrically induced flow causes large increases in diffusivities detrimental to the particle collection process. Since the electrode geometry and the structure of the corona discharge define the magnitude and character of the electric body force, it is theoretically possible to design a discharge electrode which minimizes electrohydrodynamic flow disturbances. As a first step in this direction, a novel planar electrode design in which electrical discharges are configured to reduce the inhomogeneities of the electric body force is experimentally studied in a negative polar