Electrical precipitators current flow

When corona occurs, current starts to flow in the secondary circuit and some dust particles are precipitated. As potential is increased, current flow and electric field strength increase until, with increasing potential, a spark jumps the gap between the discharge wire and the collecting surface. If this "sparkover" is permitted to occur excessively, destmction of the precipitator s internal parts can result. Precipitator efficiency increases with increase in potential and current flow the maximum efficiency is achieved at a potential just short of heavy sparking. 

Since membrane fording could quickly render the system inefficient, very careful and thorough feedwater pretreatment similar to that described in the section on RO, is required. Some pretreatment needs, and operational problems of scaling are diminished in the electro dialysis reversal (EDR) process, in which the electric current flow direction is periodically (eg, 3—4 times/h) reversed, with simultaneous switching of the water-flow connections. This also reverses the salt concentration buildup at the membrane and electrode surfaces, and prevents concentrations that cause the precipitation of salts and scale deposition. A schematic and photograph of a typical ED plant ate shown in Eigure 16. 

Current Flow Corona discharge is accompanied by a relatively small flow of electric current, typically 0.1 to 0.5 mA/m" of collecting-electrode area (projected, rather than actual area). Sparking usually involves a considerably larger flow of current which cannot be tolerated except for occasional periods of a fraction of a second duration, and then only when smtable electrical controls are provided to hmit the current. However, when suitable controls are provided, precipitators have been operated continuously with a small amount of sparking... 

There is still another type of internal solid state reaction which we will discuss and it is electrochemical in nature. It occurs when an electrical current flows through a mixed conductor in which the point defect disorder changes in such a way that the transference of electronic charge carriers predominates in one part of the crystal, while the transference of ionic charge carriers predominates in another part of it. Obviously, in the transition zone (junction) a (electrochemical) solid state reaction must occur. It leads to an internal decomposition of the matrix crystal if the driving force (electric field) is sufficiently high. The immobile ionic component is internally precipitated, whereas the mobile ionic component is carried away in the form of electrically charged point defects from the internal reaction zone to one of the electrodes. 

A very interesting example of an anodic process is the manufacture of insoluble compounds, produced by metallic ions, formed during the dissolution of the electrode which after entering the solution react with such anions with which they precipitate in the form of poorly soluble salt. The formed precipitate is very often deposited on the anode and being a poor electric conductor it prevents the flow of current. 

Resistivity is a term used to describe the resistance of a medium to the flow of an electrical current. By definition, the resistivity is the electrical resistance of a dust sample 1 cm in cross-sectional area and 1 cm thick. For ease of precipitation capture, dust resistivity values can be classified roughly into three groups ... 

A further advantage of the coulometric procedure is that a single constant-current source provides reagents for precipitation, complex formation, neutralization, or oxidation/reduction titrations. Finally, coulometric titrations are more readily automated, since it is easier to control electrical current than liquid flow. 

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