RADIOTRACER MEASUREMENT OF PARTICLE DEPOSITION AND REENTRAINMENT IN AN ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

Irradiated fly ash was injected at the inlet of an electrostatic precipitator, and the subsequent activity level on a collection plate was determined as a function of axial position and time. The results provide a direct measure of the particle deposition profile, and of the local rate of reentrainment. This type of experiment may be used to obtain quantitative information on the effects of dust properties and precipitator variables on dust collection efficiency, and to provide data for testing mathematical models of precipitator performance.