The Development and Evaluation of an Enhanced Electrostatic Precipitator for Poultry Dust Removal

Particulate emissions are one of the main air quality concerns in poultry

farms and other animal feeding operations (AFO) and especially are significant

in poultry AFOs.  It can cause health damage to the AFO worker, become

a nuisance to the neighborhoods, and result in violations of the Clean Air

Act.

This Phase I study focuses on an innovative particulate control technology

utilizing an enhanced electrostatic precipitator (eESP) to control effectively

poultry AFO dust emissions, which are high in flow rate and low in residence

time compared with conventional ESPs.  The eESP will be developed based

on experience gathered by the research team in researching atypical ESP designs

and emission sources.  The design parameters for this application will

be unique as a result of the unique nature of poultry farm operating conditions

and emission points.  The eESP will be compact so that it can be placed

in the duct immediately downstream of the exhaust fans.  The duct may

need to be extended depending on its configuration.  The discharge electrodes

will be wires or wire meshes made of low-cost materials.  The electrodes

will be energized only when the exhaust fans are turned on.  The various

configurations of the charging and collection electrodes will be tested.  The

operating conditions will require that the resulting technology be affordable,

simple, and safe to use; have very low pressure drops; and be very low maintenance

for AFO owners.  Its dust removal efficiency will be tested with representative

poultry dust obtained from operating poultry farms.  A market analysis

will be performed and the potential commercial development will be evaluated.  Proper

quality assurance and quality control guidelines will be followed.  Proper

reporting procedures will be followed.

ESPs have been used widely in industrial applications, especially for the control

of particulate emissions and have been proven highly effective in dust removal.  They

inherently have very low pressure drops, which will reduce the operating costs

significantly for AFO owners by eliminating the need for increased ventilation

fan horsepower.