Effect of Duct Extension on Velocity Profile in a Multi-Tube Electrostatic Precipitator

¹ Research Centre, University of Žilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26 Zilina Slovakia
² Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Žilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26 Zilina Slovakia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Electrostatic precipitators are widely used for the removal of particulate matter from flue gases due to their high collection efficiency. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics approach was employed to analyse the influence of an upstream duct extension on the velocity distribution within a four-tube precipitator. Compared to a standard single- tube configuration, the multi-tube arrangement provides a 60% increase in collection area. However, this benefit introduces challenges in uniform flow across all tubes. Two configurations were examined: a baseline case without extension (Case 1) and a modified version incorporating a 500 mm duct extension before the ESP section (Case 2) for improving flow uniformity. Simulation results revealed that Case 1 exhibited significant velocity asymmetry, with two tubes carrying most of the flow. Case 2 demonstrated substantially improved flow uniformity, with more balanced velocities across all tubes. These findings highlight the importance of flow- conditioning measures in optimizing the electrostatic precipitator. Although the duct extension proved effective, its integration may be limited by spatial constraints in small-scale systems, prompting future investigation into compact alternatives such as internal deflectors or straighteners.