From electrostatic precipitation to nanoparticle generation

Ultrafine Particle Removal and Ozone Generation by In-Duct Electrostatic Precipitators

“…al showed that in a lab ESP test system (0.5 m 3 h −1 ) using potassium sodium tartrate particles removal efficiencies were highly variable for particles less than 10 nm, ranging from greater than 90% to less than zero. 5 The authors speculate that the tested ESP was generating particles less than 10 nm resulting in removal efficiencies less than zero. ESPs can generate particles either by shedding of wire material or by generating ozone that can react with unsaturated organic compounds from which ultrafine particles are a byproduct.…”

“…If a user desires to remove particles less than 15 nm using in-duct residential ESP technology, ESP systems may require increased voltages and lower flow rates than the tested models. 5 However, increasing the ionizing voltage in residential systems to remove particles smaller than 20 nm could result in increased ozone generation. 14 On a household scale such emitted ozone may directly impact human health or result in secondary ozone reactions with organic chemicals emitted in the house.…”

“…The particle collection efficiency of an ESP is a function of particle size and several design parameters such as airflow rate, voltage, collection cell area, and strength and distribution of the electric field . Although the theory of ESP technology has been extensively studied and experimentally tested in lab scale research, − few studies have investigated particle removal during the operation of in-duct ESP within a building. Howard-Reed et al reported on experiments in a townhouse, which showed that an in-duct ESP could reduce particle concentrations between 0.3 and 10 μm by 55% to 85% .…”

Measurement-Based Evaluation of Installed Filtration System Performance in Single-Family Homes

“…Besides in-duct application, ESP is also employed in some standalone air filtration units. However, recent studies suggestion some ESP may generate ultrafine particles and ozone as byproducts (Lin et al 2012;Poppendieck et al 2014), which raises concerns. Frequent cleaning is also required for ESP to maintain high removal efficiencies (Wallace et al 2004).…”

Basic study on indoor air quality improvement by atmospheric plasma

“…The sharp tip and the short gap were contributing factors to decrease the discharge voltage. The corona discharge ionizes the gas and furthermore electrically charges the dust [12,13]. The charged dust particles are attracted to the electrode of opposite polarity, in our case the grounded mesh filters due to the Coulomb force [14,15].…”