Analysis of the operating parameters of a vortex electrostatic precipitator

A vortex electrostatic precipitator (VEP) forms a vortex flow field within a precipitator by means of the vertical staggered layout of the double-vortex collecting plate facing the direction of the gas flow. The ion concentrations within the precipitator can be significantly increased. Correspondingly, the charging and coagulation rates of fine particles and particle migration velocity are significantly improved within the VEP. Since it can effectively collect fine particles and reduce precipitator size, VEPs represent a new type of electrostatic precipitator with great application potential. In this work the change curve of the external voltage, gas velocity, row spacing and effective collecting area influencing the precipitation efficiency were acquired through a single-factor experiment. Using an orthogonal regression design, attempts were made to analyze the major operating parameters influencing the collecting efficiency of fine particles, establish a multiple linear regression model and analyze the weights of factors and then acquire quantitative rules relating experimental indicators and factors. The regression model was optimized by MATLAB programming, and we then obtained the optimal factor combination which can enhance the efficiency of fine particle collection. The final optimized result is that: when gas velocity is 3.4 m s⁻¹, the external voltage is 18 kV, row spacing is 100 mm and the effective collecting area is 1.13 m², the rate of fine particle collection is 89.8867%. After determining and analyzing the state of the internal flow field within the VEP by particle image velocimetry (PIV), the results show that, for a particular gas velocity, a vortex zone and laminar zone are distinctly formed within the VEP, which increases the ion transport ratio as well as the charging, coagulation and collection rates of fine particles within the precipitator, thus making further improvements in the efficiency of fine particle collection.