PIV Characterization of a Large-Scale EHD Vortex Confinement Flow in a Wire-to-plate ESP for Electrostatic Particle Clustering
SANJAY DANGI, Eric Monsu Lee, Northern Illinois University
Abstract Number: 69
Working Group: Control and Mitigation Technology
Abstract
With the increased use of nanoparticles and micro-plastic-based products, the concentration of PM10 has increased in the biosphere due to the disposal of manufacturing waste and expired parts. If inhaled, these fine particles can result in detrimental health effects as they can travel deep into our lungs and even penetrate blood vessels. Filters for indoor air quality control exhibit drawbacks, including periodic filter replacement, and high-pressure drop across the filter demanding increased power consumption with time. At power plants, electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are predominantly used to collect fly ash with more than 99% collection efficiency. However, for submicron particles collection efficiency drops significantly due to low particle charging rate. The movement of particles in the ESPs depends on the electric field, ion density, inlet velocity, particle properties, electrode geometry, and the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow. At corona onset, large-scale EHD vortex flow can be induced due to discontinuity in ion density. This large-scale EHD vortex flow can affect the collective behavior of the submicron particles and has not been extensively characterized. The flow has previously been studied with a 2-D axisymmetric model but has not been experimentally confirmed. This study aims to confirm the large-scale EHD vortex flow by developing a wire-to-plate ESP for particle entrainment. The EHD flows with different EHD/Re2 numbers will be measured by using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) seeded by DEHS particles (avg. dp ~ 1µm). Two counter-rotating large-scale vortex flows near the tips of the electrodes are expected to be observed, potentially confining the DEHS particles and leading to electrostatic particle clustering.