A finite element method for analysis of current-voltage characteristics of wire-duct precipitators

Abstract

A finite element method (FEM) has been adopted to model the corona characteristics in duct-type electrostatic precipitators. The study involves the evaluation of the electric potential, field, and charge density in the interelectrode spacing. The calculated current-voltage (I-U) characteristics, electric field, and potential distributions agreed well with those published before. Moreover, the I-U characteristics were measured for different values of wire-to-wire separation, wire diameter, and wire-to-plate spacing for both single-and three-wire precipitators. The current density at the collecting plates was also measured and compared with those calculated by the proposed method. Fast convergence and simplicity characterize the proposed method.