Particle Behavior Analysis in a Hole-Type Electrostatic Precipitator Using PIV

A gas emitted from marine diesel engines has high particle concentration. Therefore, re-entrainment phenomenon occurs in a conventional electrostatic precipitator (ESP). A new hole-type ESP was developed to overcome the re-entrainment in the ESP. The hole-type ESP utilizes the ionic wind and Coulomb force to induce particle motion into the hole. To understand this mechanism, visualization of particle behavior is important. In this study, the particle behavior, the particle velocity, and the influx rate of particle in the hole were investigated. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used especially to analyze the ionic wind and particle behavior in the hole-type ESP. The ESP model was made of clear acrylic. The high-voltage electrode was a stainless needle electrode, and the ground electrode was a plate electrode with a hole in its center. It was confirmed that the particles flowed into the hole with discharge current of 3 μA. In order to confirm quantitatively whether particles are flowing into the hole, the influx rate of particle in the hole was calculated. The influx rate of particle in the hole was improved by moving the position of the needle electrode toward the ESP inlet direction.