EPA-452/F-03-028
Air Pollution Control Technology
Fact Sheet
Name of Technology: Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) - Wire-Plate Type
Type of Technology: Control Device - Capture/Disposal
Applicable Pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM), including particulate matter less than or equal to 10
micrometers («fn) in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 • m in
aerodynamic diameter (PM2 5), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that are in particulate form, such as most
metals (mercury is the notable exception, as a significant portion of emissions are in the form of elemental
vapor).
Achievable Emission Limits/Reductions:
Typical new equipment design efficiencies are between 99 and 99.9%. Older existing equipment have a range
of actual operating efficiencies of 90 to 99.9%. While several factors determine ESP collection efficiency, ESP
size is most important. Size determines treatment time; the longer a particle spends in the ESP, the greater
its chance of being collected. Maximizing electric field strength will maximize ESP collection efficiency
(STAPPA/ALAPCO, 1996). Collection efficiency is also affected by dust resistivity, gas temperature, chemical
composition (of the dust and the gas), and particle size distribution. Cumulative collection efficiencies of PM,
PM10, and PM2 5 for actual operating ESPs in various types of applications are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Cumulative PM, PM10, and PM25 Collection Efficiencies for Dry ESPs
(EPA, 1998; EPA, 1997)
Application
Collection Efficiency (%)
Total PM PM10 PM25
(EPA, (EPA, (EPA,
1997) 1998) 1998)
Coal-Fired Boilers
Dry bottom (bituminous)
Spreader stoker (bituminous)
Primary Copper Production
Multiple hearth roaster
Reverbatory smelter
Iron and Steel Production
Open hearth furnace
99.2
99.2
99.0
99.0
99.2
97.7
99.4
99.0
97.1
99.2
96.0
97.7
99.1
97.4
99.2
Applicable Source Type: Point
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet
Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
Wire-Plate Type
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Typical Industrial Applications:
Approximately 80% of all ESPs in the U.S. are used in the electric utility industry. ESPs are also used in pulp
and paper (7%), cement and other minerals (3%), and nonferrous metals industries (1%) (EPA, 1998).
Common applications of dry wire-plate ESPs are presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Typical Industrial Applications of Dry Wire-Plate ESPs (EPA, 1998)
Application
Source Category Code
(SCC)
Are Other ESP Types
Also Typically Used for
this Application?
Utility Boilers (Coal, Oil)
Industrial Boilers (Coal,
Commercial/Institutional
Oil, Wood, Liquid Waste)
Boilers (Coal, Oil, Wood)
Chemical Manufacture
Non-Ferrous Metals Processing (Primary and
Secondary):
Copper
Lead
Zinc
Aluminum
Other metals production
Ferrous Metals Processing:
Ferroalloy Production
Iron and Steel Production
Gray Iron Foundries
Steel Foundries
Petroleum Refineries and Related Industries
Mineral Products:
Stone
Cement Manufacturing
Quarrying and Processing
Other
Wood, Pulp, and Paper
Incineration (Municipal Waste)
1-01-002.. .004
1-02-001. ..005
1-02-009,-013
1-03-001. ..005
1-03-009
Site specific
3-03-005
3-04-002
3-03-010
3-04-004
3-03-030
3-04-008
3-03-000. ..002
3-04-001
3-03-011. ..014
3-04-005.. .006
3-04-010. ..022
3-03-006. ..007
3-03-008. ..009
3-04-003
3-04-007,-009
3-06-001. ..999
3-05-006. ..007
3-05-020
3-05-003.. .999
3-07-001
5-01-001
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Emission Stream Characteristics:
a. Air Flow: Typical gas flow rates for wire-plate ESPs are 100 to 500 standard cubic meters per
second (sm3/sec) (200,000 to 1,000,000 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm)). Most smaller plate-
type ESPs (50 sm3/sec to 100 sm3/sec, or 100,000 to 200,000 scfm) use flat plates instead of wires
for the high-voltage electrodes (AWMA, 1992).
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet
Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
Wire-Plate Type
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b. Temperature: Wire-plate ESPs can operate at very high temperatures, up to 700-C (1300-F)
(AWMA, 1992). Operating gas temperature and chemical composition of the dust are key factors
influencing dust resistivity and must be carefully considered in the design of an ESP.
c. Pollutant Loading: Typical inlet concentrations to a wire-plate ESP are 2 to 110 g/m3 (1 to 50
grains per cubic foot (gr/ft3)). It is common to pretreat a waste stream, usually with a mechanical
collector or cyclone, to bring the pollutant loading into this range. Highly toxic flows with
concentrations below 1 g/m3 (0.5 gr/ft3) are also sometimes controlled with ESPs (Bradburn, 1999;
Boyer, 1999; Brown, 1999).
d. Other Considerations: In general, dry ESPs operate most efficiently with dust resistivities
between 5 x 103 and 2 x 1010 ohm-cm. In general, the most difficult particles to collect are those
with aerodynamic diameters between 0.1 and 1.0 • m. Particles between 0.2 and 0.4 • m usually
show the most penetration. This is most likely a result of the transition region between field and
diffusion charging (EPA, 1998).
Emission Stream Pretreatment Requirements:
When much of the pollutant loading consists of relatively large particles, mechanical collectors such as
cyclones or spray coolers may be used to reduce the load on the ESP, especially at high inlet concentrations.
Gas conditioning equipment to improve ESP performance by changing dust resistivity is occasionally used
as part of the original design, but more frequently it is used to upgrade existing ESPs. The equipment injects
an agent into the gas stream ahead of the ESP. Usually, the agent mixes with the particles and alters their
resistivity to promote higher migration velocity, and thus higher collection efficiency. Conditioning agents that
are used include SO3, H2SO4, sodium compounds, ammonia, and water; the conditioning agent most used
is SO3 (AWMA, 1992).
Cost Information:
The following are cost ranges (expressed in 2002 dollars) for wire-plate ESPs of conventional design under
typical operating conditions, developed using EPA cost-estimating spreadsheets (EPA, 1996). Costs can be
substantially higher than in the ranges shown for pollutants which require an unusually high level of control,
or which require the ESP to be constructed of special materials such as stainless steel ortitanium. In general,
smaller units controlling a low concentration waste stream will not be as cost effective as a large unit cleaning
a high pollutant load flow.
a. Capital Cost: $21,000 to $70,000 per snf/sec ($10 to $33 per scfm)
b. O&MCost: $6,400 to $74,000 per snf/sec ($3 to $35 per scfm), annually
c. Annualized Cost: $9,100 to $81,000 per snf/sec ($4 to $38 per scfm), annually
d. Cost Effectiveness: $38 to $260 per metric ton ($35 to $236 per short ton)
Theory of Operation:
An ESP is a particulate control device that uses electrical forces to move particles entrained within an exhaust
stream onto collector plates. The entrained particles are given an electrical charge when they pass through
a corona, a region where gaseous ions flow. Electrodes in the center of the flow lane are maintained at high
voltage and generate the electrical field that forces the particles to the collector walls. In dry ESPs, the
collectors are knocked, or "rapped", by various mechanical means to dislodge the particulate, which slides
downward into a hopper where they are collected. The hopper is evacuated periodically, as it becomes full.
Dust is removed through a valve into a dust-handling system, such as a pneumatic conveyor, and is then
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
3 Wire-Plate Type
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disposed of in an appropriate manner.
In the wire-plate ESP, the exhaust gas flows horizontally and parallel to vertical plates of sheet metal. Plate
spacing is typically between 19 to 38 cm (9 in. and 18 in.) (AWMA, 1992). The high voltage electrodes are
long wires that are weighted and hang between the plates. Some later designs use rigid electrodes (hollow
pipes approximately 25 mm to 40 mm in diameter) in place of wire (Cooper and Alley, 1994). Within each flow
path, gas flow must pass each wire in sequence as it flows through the unit. The flow areas between the
plates are called ducts. Duct heights are typically 6 to 14 m (20 to 45 feet) (EPA, 1998).
The power supplies for the ESP convert the industrial AC voltage (220 to 480 volts) to pulsating DC voltage
in the range of 20,000 to 100,000 volts as needed. The voltage applied to the electrodes causes the gas
between the electrodes to breakdown electrically, an action known as a "corona." The electrodes are usually
given a negative polarity because a negative corona supports a higher voltage than does a positive corona
before sparking occurs. The ions generated in the corona follow electric field lines from the wires to the
collecting plates. Therefore, each wire establishes a charging zone through which the particles must pass.
As larger particles (>10 • m diameter) absorb many times more ions than small particles (>1 • m diameter),
the electrical forces are much stronger on the large particles (EPA, 1996).
Certain types of losses affect control efficiency. The rapping that dislodges the accumulated layer also project
some of the particles (typically 12% for coal fly ash) back into the gas stream. These reentrained particles
are then processed again by later sections, but the particles reentrained in the last section of the ESP have
no chance to be recaptured and so escape the unit. Due to necessary clearances needed for nonelectrified
internal components at the top of the ESP, part of the gas may flow around the charging zones. This is called
"sneakage" and places an upper limit on the collection efficiency. Anti-sneakage baffles are placed to force
the sneakage flow to mix with the main gas stream for collection in later sections (EPA, 1998).
Another major factor in the performance is the resistivity of the collected material. Because the particles form
a continuous layer on the ESP plates, all the ion current must pass through the layer to reach the ground
plates. This current creates an electric field in the layer, and it can become large enough to cause local
electrical breakdown. When this occurs, new ions of the wrong polarity are injected into the wire-plate gap
where they reduce the charge on the particles and may cause sparking. This breakdown condition is called
"back corona." Back corona is prevalent when the resistivity of the layer is high, usually above 2 x 1011 ohm-
cm. Above this level, the collection ability of the unit is reduced considerably because the sever back corona
causes difficulties in charging the particles. Low resistivities will also cause problems. At resistivities below
108 ohm-cm, the particles are held on the plates so loosely that rapping and nonrapping reentrainment
become much more severe. Hence, care must be taken in measuring or estimating resistivity because it is
strongly affected by such variables as temperature, moisture, gas composition, particle composition, and
surface characteristics (AWMA, 1992).
Precipitatorsize is related to many design parameters. One of the main parameters is the specific collection
area (SCA), which is defined as the ratio of the surface area of the collection electrodes to the gas flow. Higher
collection areas lead to better removal efficiencies. Collection areas normally are in the range of 40 to 160 m2
per sm3/second of gas flow (200-800 ft2/1000 scfm), with typical values of 80 (400) (AWMA, 1992).
Advantages:
Dry wire-plate ESPs and other ESPs in general, because they act only on the particulate to be removed, and
only minimally hinder flue gas flow, have very low pressure drops (typically less than 13 mm (0.5 in.) water
column). As a result, energy requirements and operating costs tend to be low. They are capable of very high
efficiencies, even for very small particles. They can be designed for a wide range of gas temperatures, and
can handle high temperatures, up to 700-C (1300-F). Dry collection and disposal allows for easier handling.
Operating costs are relatively low. ESPs are capable of operating under high pressure (to 1,030 kPa (150
psi)) or vacuum conditions. Relatively large gas flow rates can be effectively handled. (AWMA, 1992)
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
4 Wire-Plate Type
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Disadvantages:
ESPs generally have high capital costs. The wire discharge electrodes (approximately 2.5 mm (0.01 in.) in
diameter) are high-maintenance items. Corrosion can occur nearthe top of the wires because of air leakage
and acid condensation. Also, long weighted wires tend to oscillate - the middle of the wire can approach the
plate, causing increased sparking and wear. Newer ESP designs are tending toward rigid electrodes (Cooper
and Alley, 1994).
ESPs in general are not suited for use in processes which are highly variable because they are very sensitive
to fluctuations in gas stream conditions (flow rates, temperatures, particulate and gas composition, and
particulate loadings). ESPs are also difficult to install in sites which have limited space since ESPs must be
relatively large to obtain the low gas velocities necessary for efficient PM collection (Cooper and Alley, 1994).
Certain particulates are difficult to collect due to extremely high or low resistivity characteristics. There can
be an explosion hazard when treating combustible gases and/or collecting combustible particulates. Relatively
sophisticated maintenance personnel are required, as well as special precautions to safeguard personnel from
the high voltage. Dry ESPs are not recommended for removing sticky or moist particles. Ozone is produced
by the negatively charged electrode during gas ionization (AWMA, 1992).
Other Considerations:
Dusts with very high resistivities (greater than 1010 ohm-cm) are also not well-suited for collection in dry ESPs.
These particles are not easily charged, and thus are not easily collected. High-resistivity particles also form
ash layers with very high voltage gradients on the collecting electrodes. Electrical breakdowns in these ash
layers lead to injection of positively charged ions into the space between the discharge and collecting
electrodes (back corona), thus reducing the charge on particles in this space and lowering collection efficiency.
Fly ash from the combustion of low-sulfur coal typically has a high resistivity, and thus is difficult to collect
(ICAC, 1999).
References:
AWMA, 1992. Air& Waste Management Association, Air Pollution Engineering Manual, Van Nostrand
Reinhold, New York.
Boyer, 1999. James Boyer, Beaumont Environmental Systems, (724) 941-1743, personal communication
with Eric Albright, January 18, 1999.
Bradburn, 1999. Keith Bradburn, ABB Environmental Systems, (800) 346-8944, personal communication
with Eric Albright, January 18, 1999.
Brown, 1999. Bob Brown, Environmental Elements Corp., (410) 368-6894, personal communication with
Eric Albright, January 18, 1999.
Cooper & Alley, 1994. C. D. Cooper and F. C. Alley, Air Pollution Control: A Design Approach, Second
Edition, Waveland Press, Inc. IL.
EPA, 1996. U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, "OAQPS Control Cost Manual," Fifth
Edition, EPA 453/B-96-001, Research Triangle Park, NC. February.
EPA, 1997. U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, "Compilation of Air Pollutant
Emission Factors, Volume I, Fifth Edition, Research Triangle Park, NC., October.
EPA, 1998. U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, "Stationary Source Control
Techniques Document for Fine Particulate Matter," EPA-452/R-97-001, Research Triangle Park, NC.,
October.
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet Dry Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
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ICAC, 1999. Institute of Clean Air Companies internet web page www.icac.com, Control Technology
Information - Electrostatic Precipitator, page last updated January 11, 1999.
STAPPA/ALAPCO, 1996. State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators and Association of
Local Air Pollution Control Officials, "Controlling Particulate Matter Under the Clean Air Act: A Menu of
Options," July.
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