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What is an Electrostatic Furnace Filter?
A particulate collection device that collects particles from flowing gas is known as an Electrostatic Furnace Filter. This is a highly efficient device that removes very minute particles from the air like smoke and dust. The first patented Electrostatic furnace filter was made in 1907 by Dr. Frederick G. Cottrell a professor of Chemistry in University of California.
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The basic compontents of an Electrostaic Furnace filter are thin wires and a stack of flat metal plates. The Filter works with the application of several thousand volts of negative voltage between the wires and plates. With the right voltage an electric discharge ionizes the air surrounding the electrodes. As a result of this there is a negative flow of ions towards the plates leading to the charging of the gas flow particles.
Electrostatic furnace filters are used in the modern day world to control emmisions from the industrial entities. These filters help in controlling emissions like catalyst from fluidized bed catalytic cracker units in oil refineries or salt cake collection from black liquor boilers in pulp mills etc.
These filters however require proper maintainance and care or if the particulate matter is allowed to deposit on the filter plates for long then even vigorous scrubbing and washing will be to no avail. Often the electrostatic furnace filters are sold along with soak off cleaners enabling easy cleaning and maintainance of the filter.
The Electrostatic Furnace Filter however has a drwa back that is the formation of the toxic ozone and NOx but HEPA filteration is a saving grace for the electrostatic filters. The usual process of electrostatic precipitation is a dry one but spraying of liquid helps in the collection of fine particulate matter. This also helps reduce the electrical resistance of the incoming particulate matter.
Note: This article is currently under review by our editors.