Abstract: A novel electrostatic precipitator includes an electrostatic collector section with discharge electrodes positioned between pairs of grounded collector electrodes, a gas entry port located upstream of said electrostatic collector section, and a transition section between the gas entry port and said electrostatic collector section into which an aqueous acid gas neutralizing agent is sprayed into a gas stream. An additional collector section may be interposed between the gas entry port and the point where the acid gas neutralizing agent is injected into the gas stream. The collector section may comprise alternating charging and short collection sections in which the grounded electrodes of adjoining charger and collector sections are connected. A liquid spray removes particulates collected on the grounded electrodes of the collector sections.

Abstract: The novel ESP has a plurality of collector sections alternating in series with a plurality of prechargers (charging sections) with each collector section being preceded by a charging section. Each collector section contains a plurality of collection plates spaced by a distance d to define a plurality of gas flow lanes therebetween. Each gas flow lane contains 1-4 corona discharge wires aligned parallel to the gas flow. Each charging section contains a plurality of corona discharge electrodes alternating with anodes in an array transverse to the gas flow. Each collector section is much shorter than in the prior art, both in actual length and in relation to the length of the length of the charging section and the interplate spacing d.

Abstract: The cost-effectiveness of sulfur oxides and particulate matter removal is improved by placing a sulfur oxides or other acidic gases removal system and a multi-stage electrostatic precipitator within a single housing. The sulfur oxides or other acidic gas removal system works by spraying a neutralizing slurry or solution into incoming flue gas to form neutral salts which dry in a reaction zone provided between the sulfur oxides or other acidic gas removal system and the electrostatic filtration module. This system also provides for simple retrofitting of existing systems to include SO.sub.2 or other acidic gas removal systems.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for reducing rapping reentrainment from a conventional electrostatic precipitator. Thus, the apparatus will include a conventional electrostatic precipitator having at least one main electrical section and, in sequence downstream of the main electrical section, a precharger and a reentrainment collector. The precharger has a tubular anode aligned with collection plates in the main electrical section and a corona discharge wire aligned with the corona discharge wires of the main electrical section. The reentrainment collector includes collection plates substantially shorter than the collection plates of the main electrical section with at least one corona discharge wire in each of the gaps between the collection plates. The secondary collection plates of the reentrainment collector are operated at a current density 75% or less of the current density at which the main collector plates are operated.