The collection efficiency of a laboratory scale plate-wire electrostatic precipitator, operating in the removal of airborne PM2.5, was carried out. The variables investigated were the applied potential (V), the gas velocity (v o), the diameter of the discharge electrodes (2rSE), the distance between electrodes (2c) and of the total precipitator length (L NE). The test particles were high grade alumina with median diameter of 0.6 micrometers and maximum diameter of 2.5 micrometers. The results showed, qualitatively, a good agreement with the theory of electrostatic precipitation. Quantitatively, the results were compared to predictions from two existing correlations from the literature and both underestimated the precipitator overall efficiency when using the assumption of pseudo-homogeneous electrical field strength. The predictions improved significantly when the field strength was calculated with the equation proposed by Kihm et al. (1985, 1987) and included a homogeneous space charge, as proposed by Riehle (1997).

Performance of a wire-plate electrostatic precipitator in the removal of particles with a wide particle size distribution was evaluated. The experimental rig utilized consisted of a set of three precipitators whose dimensions could be varied. It was observed that precipitator performance increased with an increase in the gap between the collecting plates, which resulted in a substantial increase in energy consumption per volume of cleaned gas. The grade efficiency predicted by correlations from the literature did not match the experimental measurements, and a new correlation is proposed.