Computer Simulation of an Electrostatic Cyclonic Emissions Separator

In 1997, the United States Environmental Protection Agency strengthened its health protection standard for particulate matter by introducing the PM 2.5 standard. This standard has since lead to control of fine particulates with even more importance and better technology. Although, fabric filters and electrostatic precipitators on coal-burning facilities are successful in attaining standards, these technologies are relatively expensive, need a huge amount of space, and require longer downtimes for installation. The primary focus of this research is to use Fluent and Gambit software to simulate an electro cyclone technology with a novel slipstream idea aimed at reducing fine particulate matter efficiently, combined with a conventional PM control technology. The computer model, once validated appropriately using a bench-scale cyclone, would serve as a design tool to further improve the novel electro cyclone concept.