Wet electrostatic precipitators (WESP) are the preferred equipment for the removal of sub-micron particulate. Sub-micron particulate control is a subset of particulate control, typically used for TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) particulate or where downstream equipment might be damaged by sub-micron particulate.
What is inside this efficient particulate removal equipment? We have put together a short video that brings you inside the WESP and provides a high level overview of the internals of a wet electrostatic precipitator.
High voltage is brought into the insulator compartments, through the high voltage grid, and on to the electrodes. The collector assemblies are grounded, leading to a high voltage differential between the electrodes and the collector. Emitter discs on the electrodes promote electron migration from the electrode to the collector plate; particles are charged by colliding with the electrons. The negative charge on the particle in turn attracts the particle to the collector.
Wet electrostatic precipitators are very efficient at the removal of sub-micron particulate, with single pass systems able to remove over 90% of sub-micron particulate. We recommend electrostatic precipitators for most applications where efficient removal of sub-micron particulate is essential.