Maintenance Program and Procedures to Optimize Electrostatic Precipitators

The electrostatic precipitator has proven to be a highly successful piece of equipment for the removal of suspended particulate matter in the gas streams discharged from cement kilns. Whether the high collection efficiency of the precipitator will be maintained on a continuous basis can often be related to proper maintenance procedures. This paper is primarily offered as a nontechnical coverage of some problems that may face the maintenance department of a cement plant after the installation of the precipitator. Whether these problems actually arise are subject to many variables, including the thought and care given to reliability features in the original design. Discussion is presented to facilitate a better understanding of how precipitator design and kiln operating parameters can affect maintenance procedures.