Low Cost ESP Performance Enhancement: A Proactive Approach

Increasingly more stringent particulate standards in India are being met by large and expensive electrostatic precipitators for new coal-fired power stations. The older and smaller units require upgrades. The Proactive Approach combining experience and knowledge with the application of a modern ESP model has been developed to help identify low-cost upgrade options. The approach was applied to a poorly operating medium sized Indian ESP not meeting the newer regulations. After defining the discharge electrode and particle size properties the precipitator was virtually restored to its proper design performance within the computer. Then a number of relatively low-cost options were identified to increase the migration velocity and decrease the gas flow. These approaches indicated that the precipitator could achieve lower emission levels that could meet the newer emission requirements. The Proactive Approach is easily and economically applicable to other precipitators in India and elsewhere.