Numerical verification and experimental validation of the FEM model of collecting electrodes in a dry electrostatic precipitator

The subject of the present work is the numerical verification and experimental validation of the FEM model which would enable us to analyse the vibrations of collecting electrodes. The effectiveness of electrostatic precipitators (ESP) depends on many factors. One of these factors is the efficiency of periodic cleaning of the collecting electrodes; thus the dust is removed by inducing vibrations. These vibrations are caused by the axial impact of a hammer on an anvil beam. In the course of the impact, and afterwards, the stresses due to the impact are produced in both the rapper system and in the collecting electrode section. The paper presents a modified finite element method which can be used in simulations and to analyse the vibrations of collecting electrodes. In the verification process the calculation results obtained were compared with those from commercial software (Abaqus). The calculations and measured results were compared for validation. The comparisons were made using peak and RMS (root-mean-squared) values as well as special factors and hit rates. An acceptable compatibility of the results proves that the model can be applied in the analysis of vibrations of electrodes in design practice.