A Study on the Particle Removal Efficiency and Durability According to the Material of the Ionizer of the Fiber Brush Type Electric Precipitator

In this study, we investigated the particulate matter (PM) removal efficiency and durability of the two-stage electrostatic precipitator (ESP) different materials of brush-typed ionizers (non-metal: carbon fiber/metal: stainless steel (SUS) fiber). The PM removal efficiency was reduced when the average diameter and number of fibers of the brush-typed ionizer increased due to thin and multi-edge in a large number of fibers, which decreased the average electric field, resulting in lower PM removal efficiencies. In contrast with the carbon fiber ionizer, when the SUS fiber ionizer was used, the PM removal efficiency was maintained for a long time, due to its lower electrical resistivity (∼6.9 × 10 ⁻⁷ Ω * m) of the SUS fiber compared with the carbon fiber (∼5 × 10 ⁻⁴ Ω * m), which prevents the positive ions to be stacked on the fiber. Therefore, the present research showed the potential use to apply SUS fiber ionizers as two-stage ESPs for a future air pollution control technology with high PM removal efficiency and durability without ozone emission and additional maintenance.