Finite Element Solution for Ionized Fields in DC Electrostatic

1. Introduction
The electrostatic precipitators (ESP) are the
most widely used systems to reduce the particulate
emissions from large industrial process plant.
Essentially, electrostatic precipitators remove dust
by charging the constituent particles by means of
corona generated ions. Then the electrically
charged particles move towards the collecting
electrode under the effect of electric field present in
the inter-electrode space, which is produced by the
high voltage applied to the emitter electrode [1].
The determination of the electric field and
current density distributions in inter-electrode space
is further complicated by the presence of the corona
phenomenon. The space charge distribution may be
computed analytically only for particular symmetry
arrangements under some simplifying
assumptions [2]. Several models have been
proposed for the calculation of the electric field and
charge density distribution using the finite
difference method [3], finite element techniques [4]
which are usually combined with the method of
characteristics (MOC) [5], boundary element
method with MOC [6] and combined boundary
element with finite difference method [7]. Also,
alternative methodologies have been developed
such as the R-functions and MOC [8], the donor
cell method with finite elements [9], the charge
simulation technique (CSM) [10], and a model that
combines finite differences and finite elements
[11]. In the present paper, the calculation of the
electrical quantities is performed using a finite
element software, COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS.
The computed values are compared with those
obtained analytically [12] to assess the accuracy of
the obtained results. The calculated current-voltage
characteristics are compared with measured ones
carried out on a laboratory model of coaxial wirecylinder
electrostatic precipitator.
Therefore, the aim of the present work is to
validate a numerical model and to show that
modeling of electric field during the corona
discharge can be successfully performed using
COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS software.
2. Mathematical Model
The equations that constitute the mathematical
description of the corona phenomenon are obtained