Mechanism of an Electrostatic Precipitator

The complete process of particle removal by electrostatic precipitation commonly includes three steps (1) particle charging (2) particle migration in an external electric field and (3) particle discharging and collection. This removal process is illustrated in Fig. 7.10. 

The charged particles migrate toward the collecting electrodes in the applied electric field by the Coulomb force. Upon contact with the collecting electrodes, the particles lose their charges and thus can be removed either by adhesion to the collecting surface or by 

---