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A Case Study of ESP Electrical Characteristics from a Thermal Power Station

Conference Paper  in  Conference Record - IAS Annual Meeting (IEEE Industry Applications Society) · November 2009
DOI: 10.1109/IAS.2009.5324853 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 A Case Study of ESP Electrical Characteristics from a Thermal Power Station

Gabriel Nicolae Popa Victor Vaida

Member, IEEE Thermal Power Plant Mintia
Cristian Abrudean Deva, Romania
[email protected]
Sorin Ioan Deaconu
Member, IEEE
Iosif Popa
Department of Electrical Engineering
and Industrial Informatics,
Politehnica University Timişoara
Hunedoara, Romania
[email protected]

Abstract -- For a thermoelectric power plant was made an attached an ESP with plates composed (usually) by three or
analysis upon plate-type electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) for an four electrode fields for separating the dust from the waste
energetic group depending on the group’s load, in different gases, placed successively (one after another) each field
operation regimes of the high-voltage units. Knowing the ESP’s being able to be sectioned in two zones [3].
real I-V characteristics is important for their automation. Using The ESP itself is the part of the electric dedusting
a simulation software in C++ had been determinated the lines of
field of potential and the electric field strength in ESPs for five
installation in which takes place the ionization and separation
types of discharge wires and collecting electrodes. For realising of the dust particles from gases.
the simulations had been took account by real sizes of collecting The optimal operation of ESP is closely related to its
electrodes, discharge wires forms and the distance between electrical energization [3]. The I-V characteristics of ESP
collecting electrodes and discharge wires. sections have been determined by analytical methods using
the ion space charge effect, the influence of the electrode
Index Terms-- plate-type electrostatic precipitators; I-V geometry, temperature, pressure, ion mobility, with and
characteristics; discharge wires; intensity of electric field. without gases through it [9]
Another way is to compute I-V characteristics by using
I. NOMENCLATURE numerical analysis using computer calculations [4]. The
E Electric field strength. current density is compute for different positions in the
ESP Plate-type electrostatic precipitator. interelectrode space for different values of voltage.
H Magnetic field strength. To improve the efficiency of ESPs can be used electrical
I1 Current from power supply of ESP section. or mechanical methods. In the case of electrical
I2 Current from ESP section. improvments, can be used different types of power sources
e.g..: for large particles and high dust resisitivity a high-
P Electrical potential.
frequency d.c. power supply and for fine particles a pulsed
R1 Operation regime with electric parameters
power supplies [3], [4].
optimized automatically.
To compute I-V characteristics in [6], [7], [10] is presented
R2 Operation regime with electric parameters adjusted
a numerical method based on a finite difference scheme using
manually at the discharge limit. Poisson equation and the space-charge drift formula.
V1 Voltage supply. The configuration of the electrode system of ESP and the
V2 Voltage on ESP section. shape of the voltage have a strong influence of the charging
ε Electric permittivity of the medium. process of the dust particles [2], [8].
ρ Density of electric charge. To obtain maximum electrical field for charging of dust
particles it is important to apply maximum voltage between
II. INTRODUCTION ESP electrodes. The voltage must be automatically adjusted
Further the energetic coal’s burning processes from the in accordance with charging condition to get optimum
thermoelectric power plants, it result gases that contain a performance. A distributed control technique of an ESP is
large quantity of fine particles (dust and ash) which represent presented in [12].
important pollution factors. Before the gas emissions into the
atmosphere, is necessary their dedusting with plate-type
electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). III. ESP CONSTRUCTION
For the dedusting of the waste gases resulted further the The unclean gases are passed through a chamber that
coal’s burning in the boilers’ firing places, to each boiler is contains grounded steel plates (collecting plates). These

978-1-4244-3476-3/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE

plates divide the chamber into a certain number of parallel
channels. In these channels, at the mid-distance between
plates, are disposed some filiform conductors (discharge
wires), of different shapes in cross-section, sustained by a
metallic frame (fig.1). All the metallic frames from the
channels are linked between them, forming a grid. The entire
grid is suspended by ceramic insulators which insulate them
from electric viewpoint against the grounded parts. Between
the discharge wires and the collecting plates is connected a
continuous voltage (the potential – at the discharge wires).
Between the discharge wires and the collecting plates is
created an intense electric field (fig.2). The electric field
becomes very intense in the vicinity of the discharge wires in
such way that, along the conductors, appear electric
discharges by Corona effect. By these discharges the burning
gas is ionized, being formed a large quantity of negative ions.
These ions should cross the entire space between electrodes
to reach to the closest positive electrodes. Thus, is obtained a Fig. 2. The basic of collecting process
flux of negative ions from the discharge wires towards the
collecting plates [13]. The intervals between shakes are adjusted according to the
On their way, the negative ions hit the dust particles, particles’ adherence.
electrizing these particles and, thus, favoring their drive by
the electric field towards the collecting plates. It is very IV. ESP’S ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT WITH THREE FIELDS
important to maintain the conditions for appearing the The basic equipments of the ESPs’ electric part are:
Corona phenomenon, because this phenomenon increases - High-voltage electric equipment;
considerably the cleaning efficiency, with immediate effects - Distribution installation for high voltage;
upon the gases’ dedusting degree. - Auxiliary service cabinet.
By the electric field’s’ action, created simultaneously Another component that leads to a better operation of the
between the discharging wires and the collecting plates, the ESP installations is the ventilation and pressurizing
loaded particles are attracted by the grounded collecting installation.
plates. The particles separated from the burning gases from Also, the ESPs’ electric installations need a firm connection
the collecting plates are shaken periodically and fall in the to the ground, both by functional viewpoint and the
inferior part (due to their weight) in the collecting bunker operational personnel’s security viewpoint [11].
where from they are evacuated by the dust evacuation units. The role of the high-voltage primary electric equipments is
the one to supply the fields (electrodes chambers) with
rectified high voltage.
The high-voltage electric equipment fulfills two functions
imposed by ESPs:
- automatic control of the ESP field’s voltage, for an efficient
collection;
- installation’s protection to overloads.
In fig.3 is shown the principle electric diagram of
supplying one of the three ESPs fields. The high-voltage
units ensure the continuous high voltage (tens of kV) for
achieving the electric field inside the ESP. In the
componency of an ESP with three fields come three of such
high-voltage units.
The line voltage is controlled by a thyristor controller, and
then it is applied to the primary of high voltage transformer.
The high voltage it is rectified by high voltage rectifier
Fig. 1. Collecting plates and discharge wires in a duct of industrial ESP field
bridge, and the rectified secondary voltage is applied to the
discharge wires from precipitator section. The rectified
secondary voltage is connected (- on discharge wires) to
generate negative corona in the precipitator section. An
inductor is connected in series with thyristors to increase the
short-circuit impedance during the events from ESP sections
(sparking, arcing, or short-circuit).

TABLE I
OPERATION OF BOILER PARAMETERS AT MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM
TECHNOLOGICAL LOAD FOR BOILER A
Parameters of boiler
Flow
Electric Flow rate Steam Steam
rate of
power of steam pressure temperature
CH4
[MW] [t/h] [bar] [0C]
[m3N/h]
Case 1 181.25 3600 280 135 545

Case 2 144 5800 220 135 545

Water supply
Electric power Water pressure Water
[MW] [bar] temperature [0C]
Case 1 181.25 220 160

Case 2 144 218.6 158.6

It was made an analysis upon an energetic group in two

energetic regimes [13]:
- maximum technological load (180- 185 MW);
- minimum technological load (135- 150 MW).
The electric power of the technological maximum of 180-
185 MW per group was achieved by:
- boiler body A with a flow of 280 t/h steam, functioning
with 4 coal mills and a flow of 3600 m3N/h methane gas
(CH4);
- boiler body B with a flow of 270 t/h steam, functioning with
3 coal mills and a flow of 3000 m3N/h methane gas.
The electric power of the technological minimum of 145 -150
MW per group was achieved by:
- boiler body A with a flow of 220 t/h steam, functioning
with 3 coal mills and a flow of 5800 m3N/h methane gas;
- boiler body B with a flow of 220 t/h steam, functioning with
2 coal mills and a flow of 7000 m3N/h methane gas.
In the analysis’ achievement was taken into account the
energetic group’s power, the pressure and temperature of the
boiler’s supply water, the steam’s flow and pressure.
The temperature of air before the coil mills was 210-2500C
and after the coil mills was 90 0C [13].
In table I are presented experimental average values at
boiler A for maximum load (case 1) and minimum
technological load (case 2). At this boiler, in general, the coal
needed for burning is milled with 4 coal mills. In case 1 were
operating 4 coal mills, and in case 2 were operating 3 coal
mills, thus being necessary an aditional methane gas flow
Fig. 3. Electrical diagram for an ESP field (table I).
Measurements for cases 1 and 2 were taken in 2 different
days. In first case, was obtained a higher electric power with
V. TECHNOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS UPON SOME a smaller methane gas flow compared with the second case.
PARAMETERS This is due to the different quality of the coal used for
burning in the boiler.
An energetic group from the Thermal Power Plant is
composed by two boiler bodies, named conventionally A and VI. ELECTRIC MEASUREMENTS UPON ESP
B. The electric dedusting installation is formed by two ESPs
that serve each a boiler body. The ESPs have each three An important aspect of Corona discharge is the
identical zoned sections, each section being supplied with relationship between the Corona discharge current and the
high-voltage equipment. voltage between the electrodes of different polarity. In
literature [3], [7], [10], [11] there were made trials for
determining the mathematic expressions of the V-I TABLE IV
ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS FOR BOILER A AND B IN REGIMES R1 FOR
characteristics for simple discharge wire types. Not all the MINIMUM TECHNOLOGICAL LOAD
parameters that influence the V-I characteristic can be Electrical parameters
Boi-
included in mathematic relations. ler I1 [A] U1 [V] I2 [A] U2 [V]
Therefore, the measurement of the current-voltage
Sect.
characteristics on industrial ESPs is the final solution for 1
340÷370 115÷120 1÷1.15 26÷27
diagnosis and control of the ESP’s field, this being made in Sect.
A 300÷400 140÷170 1.05÷1.15 38÷39
the presence of all factors’ influences (temperature, humidity, 2
chemical composition of dust and gas, electric properties of Sect.
370÷410 140÷160 1.3÷1.4 33÷35
3
dust) and by geometry (distance between the electrodes of Sect.
different polarity, type of discharge wires and collecting 300÷370 130÷150 1.4÷1.7 25÷27
1
plates, etc.). B
Sect.
300÷350 140÷150 1.1÷1.25 35÷36
Were emphasized two operation regimes of the ESPs A and 2
Sect.
B from the viewpoint of the electric parameters on which 3
300÷350 150÷160 1÷1.1 32÷33
were made also the s performance tests, e.g.:
– operation regime with electric parameters optimized The current absorbed from the grid (I1) is of hundreds of
automatically (R1); amperes, and the current from the ESP fields (I2) does not
- operation regime with electric parameters adjusted exceed 1.7 A, for both operation regimes. Current I2 is
manually at the discharge limit (R2). sensitively higher for the maximum load regime. In R2
It was made an analysis upon the primary and secondary regime the voltage on the ESP fields is higher. The voltage
measures (current, voltage) from the ESPs’ fields and the on the boiler’s B ESP fields is smaller than the case of the
current-voltage characteristics for each field in part [14]. ESP fields of boiler A (table II, III, IV).
Collecting of dust particles was achieved by measuring the
dust concentration from the input and output of an ERP. In R1
TABLE II
ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS FOR BOILER A AND B IN REGIMES R1 FOR regime is recorded a better collecting, both for operation at
MAXIMUM TECHNOLOGICAL LOAD maximum load and at minimum load for both ESPs for
Boi- Electrical parameters boilers A and B. This fact shows that the regime R1 with the
ler I1 [A] U1 [V] I2 [A] U2 [V] electric parameters automatically optimized is more efficient
Sect. from dust collecting viewpoint than the regime R2 (table V).
350÷380 120÷130 1÷1.15 27÷28
1 By increasing the methane gas flow, the collecting
Sect. efficiency slightly increases. However, the methane gas flow
A 300÷450 150÷170 1.15÷1.3 38÷39
2
Sect. can not be taken alone in consideration, but also should be
350÷360 110÷120 1.15÷1.25 33÷35 take into account the number of coal mills which milled the
3
Sect.
350÷370 140÷150 1.45÷1.7 25÷26
coal and the mode how is achieved the coal milling (table V).
1
Sect.
B 330÷375 140÷150 1.3÷1.45 36÷37
2
TABLE V
Sect.
340÷375 150÷170 1.05÷1.15 32÷34 OPERATION OF BOILER PARAMETERS AT MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM
3
TECHNOLOGICAL LOAD FOR BOILER A

TABLE III Number Collectin

Flow rate
ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS FOR BOILER A AND B IN REGIMES R2 FOR Load of g
ESP Regime of CH4
MAXIMUM TECHNOLOGICAL LOAD operating efficiency
[m3N/h]
Electrical parameters coal mills [%]
Boi- 4
ler I1 [A] U1 [V] I2 [A] U2 [V] Maximum A R1 3800 99.72
Sect. Maximum A R2 4 3800 99.67
350÷380 120÷130 1÷1.15 29÷30
1
Sect. Maximum A R1 4 3600 99.65
A 320÷420 160÷170 1.2÷1.3 39÷40
2
Minimum A R1 3 5800 99.65
Sect.
340÷370 120÷125 1.15÷1.2 32÷34
3 3
Sect. Maximum B R1 3000 99.51
350 142 1.6 27
1 3
Maximum B R2 3000 99.56
Sect.
B 320 145 1.3 34 2
2 Minimum B R1 7000 99.57
Sect.
400 160 1.2 35
3
 The characteristics (fig.4-6) represent the dependency
between the current density that run through the collecting
surfaces and the average voltage applied on the section.

VII. THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF POTENTIAL AND

INTENSITY OF ELECTRIC FIELD IN LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS

For determining of field lines from ESPs may be used

Maxwell's equations [12]:

∇x E = 0 , (1)
∇x H = 0 , (2)
ρ
∇⋅ E = , (3)
Fig. 4. J-V characteristics for ESP no.A, section 1 ε
∇⋅ H = 0 . (4)

Equation (3) shows that E is a unreturning vector and may

be write in function by potential P:

E = ∇P . (5)

Replacing the expression (5) in (3) may be obteined the

Poisson's equation:
. ρ (6)
∇2 P =
ε
In places where is not electrical charge the Laplace's
equation:
. ∇2 P = 0 (7)
Fig. 5. J-V characteristics for ESP no.A, section 2
Using a program of simulation in C++ had determined the
The breakdown voltage in the middle sections is higher, and lines of the electric potential and the line of the intensity of
the current through collecting plates has biggest value for the electric field in ESPs. For realising the simulations had been
input sections. took into account by real sizes of collecting surface, the
shapes of discharge wires (circular, stars, splinters, splinters
with corner, thorns discharge wires) and the distance between
electrodes [14]. Have been used five types of discharge
wires, for same types of collecting surfaces. For producing
much more ions, the active area have to be bigger and in the
same time irregular.

a. b.
Fig. 6. J-V characteristics for ESP no.A, section 3 Fig. 7. The electric potential (a) and the electric field strength (b) for circular
discharge wires
 VIII. CONCLUSIONS
The technological parameters of the energetic groups and
the electric parameters of the ESP fields influence decisively
the collecting performances of the ESPs utilized at the
thermoelectric power plants. The real V-I characteristic of the
ESP fields help both for diagnosis and the efficient
automation of ESPs.
The study of the electric potential’s field lines and the
electric field’s intensity helps the study of the optimal shape
of discharge electrodes.
Fig. 8. The electric potential (a) and the electric field strength (b) for stars
discharge wires
REFERENCES
Periodicals:
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