Electrostatic precipitator plate rapping and reliability. Volume 3, Part 2. Compendium appendixes. Final report

The study to develop data in support of an analytic model development of precipitator collecting surface responses to rapping was carried out as a portion of the work sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute, Cottrell Environmental Sciences, Princeton University, Stanford University, and Southern Research Institute. The objective of the study was to develop a data base and numerical model which could, in the long term, lead to a design and optimization methodology for the design of collecting surfaces for use in electrostatic particulate precipitators. Response to varying in-plane rapping intensities was measured in the in- and out-of-plane directions. The dynamic response was obtained as a function of time, location, rapper, and plate configuration. These data were obtained on full-scale plates. In addition, laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dust on surface response. The data obtained show that the dynamic response of the collecting surface is extremely complex. The stress waves generated by rapping travel at sonic velocities. These waves cause both complex in-plane and out-of-plane accelerations. The in-plane accelerations reach a maximum prior to the out-of-plane accelerations. Dust will dampen the response. Based on these findings it is evident that additional work should be undertaken tomore » evaluate the contribution of each acceleration mode, and intensity, on dust removal and reentrainment.« less