ESP Transformer Maintenance (Cement plant ESP)

What is an electrostatic precipitator (ESP)? An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is a piece of equipment that is used to capture dust particles that are formed or liberated by various industrial processes. The purpose of an ESP is to avoid these particulates being expelled into the atmosphere where they can cause pollution. ESPs are installed at many types of industrial plant, but they are most easily identified at thermal power plants where they are installed as part of the flue gas cleaning system.   1- Electrostatic Precipitator The diagram below shows the position of an ESP within a coal fired power station flue gas system. Another important component used for flue gas cleaning is the flue gas desulphuriser (FDG), also referred to as a ‘scrubber tower’; the scrubber tower is shown to the left of the ESP on the below diagram. Enjoying this article?  2- Electrostatic Precipitator Maintenance The maintenance of an electrostatic precipitator is mainly focused on the mechanical and electrical components. The following common problems can lead to a reduction in ESP efficiency: Loss of the electric field due to discharge wire breakage - this typically happens due to erosion of parts by dust particles, or, due to overfilling of the collection hoppers which leads to short circuiting of some of the discharge wires; an overfilling scenario is shown in the below image.  Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) Explained Online Course   Article What is an electrostatic precipitator (ESP)? An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is a piece of equipment that is used to capture dust particles that are formed or liberated by various industrial processes. The purpose of an ESP is to avoid these particulates being expelled into the atmosphere where they can cause pollution. ESPs are installed at many types of industrial plant, but they are most easily identified at thermal power plants where they are installed as part of the flue gas cleaning system.     Electrostatic Precipitator The diagram below shows the position of an ESP within a coal fired power station flue gas system. Another important component used for flue gas cleaning is the flue gas desulphuriser (FDG), also referred to as a ‘scrubber tower’; the scrubber tower is shown to the left of the ESP on the below diagram.  Flue Gas System With ESP Highlighted   Enjoying this article? Then be sure to check out our Engineering Video Courses! Each course has a quiz, handbook, and you will receive a certificate when you finish the course. Enjoy!   Coal Fired Power Station ESPs In coal-fired power generation plants (and other thermal power plant designs), coal is burnt in the combustion chamber (boiler or furnace) in solid or pulverised form. Coal (fuel) is typically fed to the combustion chamber with a forced draught fan supplying the required combustion air. Combustion products typically consist of flue gas composed of smoke, fly ash and heavy ash. Heavy ash falls to the bottom of the furnace and is removed periodically into ash hoppers. The combination of fly ash and smoke is removed by an induced draught fan (or fans) and disposed of via the flue stack. If an ESP is installed as part of the flue gas cleaning system, it is located between the induced draught fan and the combustion chamber.  Coal-Fired Plant Process Flow Diagram Within certain industries, the captured dust from an ESP can be sold rather than disposed of, but this depends upon many factors e.g. location, dust properties, demand etc.   History In the past, there was no consideration given to dust emissions from industrial plants. Later, governments reacted to reports from environmental protection agencies and the medical industry regarding the harmful effects of particulates that were being released into the atmosphere from industrial plants. An example of such a type of particulate is fly ash. Fly ash consists of oxides of silicon, iron, calcium, and aluminium; harmful substances such as sulphur are also contained by fly ash. Studies upon the effects of fly ash in humans have found that it can cause respiratory diseases, as well as cancer, heart failure, and some immunological reactions. Other dusts which are emitted from industrial processes, such as coal dust, are also known to cause lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis. But problems stemming from fly ash are not only linked to humans. Dumping fly ash on topsoil increases the topsoil’s pH and causes harm to the plants and animals in the immediate ecosystem. Large volume dumping of fly ash has been known to cause chemical leaching into the soil, with resultant harmful effects upon aquatic marine life.