Correlation of Dust Scrubber Efficiency

The grid-type electrostatic precipitator¹ evolved from some basic research into the collection of airborne charged dust particles in the wake of a flat, metallic, perforated plate under the action of an externally applied electric field. In the earliest experiments in the laboratory² a flat grounded perforated plate (or grid) was placed at right angles to an air stream moving at 6 ft/sec and an electric field was created on its downstream side by the placement of a second grid, bearing high negative potential, just downstream of the first. Negatively charged dust particles, carried along by the air stream through the openings in the first of the two grids, collected on the downstream face of the upstream grid as a result of the electric force acting on them in the direction opposing the air flow. Measured values of dust collection efficiency could not be accounted for simply by resolving the directly opposing mainstream air flow and electrostatic forces. The concept of vortex-enhanced precipitation was therefore proposed in order to explain the experimental results.