Modeling of prebreakdown VI characteristics of a wire-plate electrostatic precipitator operating under combined dc-pulse energization

With the advent of pulse energization in electrostatic precipitators, the need for developing a model to simulate the physical processes in the prebreakdown region, at which the precipitator normally operates, is also increasing. The development of such a model helps in predicting the VI characteristics of a precipitator, which will be important to diagnose the electrical problems associated with the precipitator during its operation. The paper reports the details of a proposed model to predict the VI characteristics of a wire-plate precipitator operating under the influeuce of repetitive pulses superposed on a dc bias. The model begins with the calculation of space charge density near the HV electrode during the pulse-on period and then proceeds with the drift of space charges in the pulse-off period aided by the dc bias. The pulse duration was /spl sim/250 ns. The pulse repetition rate was 50 Hz. The predicted results were validated against the experimental results conducted on a laboratory model of a wire-plate precipitator. The studies were conducted for dust free conditions.>