Wet Vibrational Precipitator: Increasing Particulate Capture Efficiency Through Vibrational Analysis

In this study, an array of wet vibrating cables is placed under tension across a particle laden air flow to capture particulates in the air stream. The goal is to remove particles suspended in a gas flow for pollution control; a function that is currently achieved typically through use of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). Unlike the standard electrostatic precipitators, the particles are not required to be charged for capture; instead, particles are captured through impaction, interception, and diffusion. This technology is incorporated in a novel cross flow vibrational precipitator (VP) in which the particle collection surface consists of an array cable-type collection surfaces wetted by water flow. The VP system is unique in having particle collection enhanced by flow-induced vibrations of the cables. The flow-induced vibrations can be synchronized with the natural frequency of the cables to produce resonance which enhances vibration and improves particle capture by disrupting the fluid boundary layer on the cable surfaces. Since the vibrations are self-induced in the system, no separate electrical power sources such as high voltage transformer-rectifier (TR) units are needed. The work presented here focuses on a detailed vibration analysis of the VP system with the aim of increasing particulate capture efficiency by operating near resonance conditions where the vibration amplitudes become effective in increasing particle capture. The analytical approach adopted in the present study was implemented in the experiments and showed a 57% increase in particulate collection efficiency in the resonance regime when compared to the non-resonance mode.