Insight into the Fine Particle Removal in Flue Gas by the Insertion of a Swirling Wet Electrostatic Precipitator

Fine particulate matter is challenging to capture due to its minuscule size, which affects its chargeability. The agglomeration method has been proven to be the most effective pretreatment technology for enhancing the removal of fine particles. This study proposes a novel dust-removal system that integrates turbulence-induced agglomeration into the wet electrostatic precipitator. The results showed that the removal efficiency of fine particles with a negative corona voltage was significantly higher, and removal efficiencies for particles smaller than 10.0 μm exceeded 90%. Furthermore, fine particles carried a larger charge when subjected to negative corona discharge, resulting in more-effective dust retention. The turbulence effect facilitates the removal of fine particles by promoting their agglomeration in turbulent conditions. The removal efficiency can increase significantly with turbulence, and this enhancement effect is more pronounced at higher flow rates. This study provides insight into the comprehensive removal of multiple pollutants from industrial flue gases.