Electrical Stimulation of Fabric Filtration

Abstract

The object of these studies was to assess the relative importance of different mech anisms that cause pressure drop reductions when baghouse filtration is aided by certain electrostatic means. The bag in this case was fitted with electrodes and a "lightning rod" was used to precharge the dust. Dust cake mass distributions were measured and showed that mass redistribution was sufficient to account for the observed pressure drop reductions; however, measurements with a permeability scanner also show that the permeability of a dust cake is greater when it is formed in the presence of an electric field. Thus the reduction in pressure drop is due to two main effects— mass redistribution and increased porosity, the former being dominant. Calculations of particle trajectories inside a bag yield results consistent with the observed deposition patterns and support the view that electric enhancement effects are due to Coulomb forces.