The working principle and operation process of the wet electrostatic precipitator rely on the synergistic effect of electric field force and liquid medium to efficiently capture and remove fine particles in the flue gas. To understand how it works, it is necessary to gradually disassemble it from its internal structure and core functional links.
The basic work of the wet electrostatic precipitator starts with the introduction of flue gas. Dust-containing flue gas is introduced into the equipment through a pipeline. At this time, the flue gas is entrained with various pollutants such as dust and aerosols. To ensure the dust removal effect, the speed and flow rate of the flue gas entering the equipment must be kept within a suitable range to avoid the particles being discharged from the equipment before they can be captured due to excessive flow rate.
After the flue gas enters, the first key step is the charging process. Inside the dust collector, there is a high-voltage electric field device composed of a discharge electrode and a dust collecting electrode. Under the action of high-voltage direct current, the discharge electrode ionizes the surrounding air and produces a large number of positive and negative ions. When the dust-containing flue gas passes through this area, the particles in the flue gas will collide with the ions and carry an electric charge. Whether it is positively charged or negatively charged particles, they lay the foundation for subsequent capture.
Charged particles will move toward the dust collecting electrode driven by the electric field force, which is the core link of dust removal. Because there is a strong electric field force between the dust collecting electrode and the discharge electrode, the charged particles are like being pulled by an invisible hand and move quickly toward the dust collecting electrode. In this process, the magnitude and stability of the electric field force directly affect the migration speed and capture efficiency of the particles. Only when the electric field is stable can a large number of particles be smoothly adsorbed to the surface of the dust collecting electrode.
After the particles are adsorbed to the dust collecting electrode, they will not stay permanently, but need to be removed by special means, which involves the cleaning step. Unlike dry electrostatic precipitators, wet electrostatic precipitators use liquid (usually water) to wash the surface of the dust collecting electrode. After the equipment has been running for a period of time, a layer of dirt composed of particles and water mist will accumulate on the dust collecting electrode. This layer of dirt is washed off through a spray system or other liquid flushing device, so that the dust collecting electrode is restored to a clean state so that new particles can continue to be adsorbed.
The dusty wastewater washed down will be discharged under the guidance of the collection system inside the equipment. These wastewaters contain a large number of captured pollutants and cannot be discharged directly. It is necessary to subsequently connect to a special sewage treatment system to separate the particulate matter and harmful substances in the sewage through processes such as sedimentation, filtration, and purification, so that the treated water quality meets the environmental protection emission standards and avoids secondary pollution.
During the entire dust removal process, the sealing and anti-corrosion performance of the equipment are also crucial. Due to the high-voltage electric field and humid environment inside, once the equipment leaks, it will not only reduce the dust removal efficiency, but also may cause safety hazards. At the same time, water and corrosive substances will corrode the equipment materials, so the wet electrostatic precipitator is usually made of corrosion-resistant materials, or an anti-corrosion coating is added to the inner wall of the equipment to ensure that the equipment can operate stably for a long time.
The wet electrostatic precipitator forms a complete and efficient dust removal system through a series of closely connected key steps such as flue gas introduction, particle charging, electric field adsorption, liquid cleaning, sewage discharge treatment and equipment protection. Each link is indispensable, and together they ensure that the equipment can continuously and stably remove pollutants from flue gas during industrial production, helping to achieve the goal of clean emissions.
