Electrical characteristics of pulsed arc electrohydraulic discharge electrostatic precipitator dust rapping/electrode cleaning system

An experimental investigation has been conducted to study the performance of the pulsed arc electrohydraulic discharged (PAED) dust rapping and electrode cleaning system for electrostatic precipitators (ESP). The PAED dust rapping system consists of hollow-rod electrodes inside the ESP and a water tank with flow meter on the outside of the ESP. Water flows through the upper hollow electrode by gravity via flow control valve and bridging gap between hollow and rod electrodes. Pulsed high voltage of a few kV is imposed on these electrodes when water bridges to ignite the PAED. The PAED generated pressure wave will be spraying water and cleaning electrodes as well as rapping dusts. The fundamental electrical and pressure characteristics of the PAED system were measured for pulse frequencies from 1 to 7 Hz, water flow rate 1.2 to 1.4 g/min. and charging voltage from 2 to 6 kV. The results show that the discharge frequency decreases with increasing charging voltage and main gas flow rate. The results also show that only trace amounts of CO and NO_x were generated during the PAED, and these decrease with increasing charging voltage and gas flow rate or frequency. The maximum pulse current and power increase with increasing charging voltage or discharge frequency.