The proceedings contain 13 papers on topics selected to present to the metals industry the most recent developments in electrostatic precipitator (ESP) technology. Subjects include the application of ESP's to the collection of fumes from operations in the iron and steel industry: production of mineral wool from blast furnace slag, hot scarfing of steel billets, sintering of blast furnace feed, and steel production in electric arc furnaces. The behavior of ferrous sinter dust in a laboratory scale ESP was discussed. Data were presented on a wet ESP collecting fumes from aluminum reduction cells. Preliminary results on the performance of ESP's in collecting fume from a copper smelter were compared with values obtained using a mathematical model of ESP action that calculates collection efficiency as a function of particle size and operating conditions. Performance test results were presented on a hot-side ESP in a power plant burning medium-sulfur coal. Design details were given for a mobile ESP unit. Other papers dealt with techniques of optimizing rapping schedules; interpreting voltage/current curves; and interference by reverse corona in the process of particle charging. Some advanced concepts for electrostatic collection of particulate matter were compared: two-stage ESP's, electrically augmented scrubbers, charged droplet scrubbers and ESP's, and electrostatic fiber and fabric filters.

Prepared under contract no. 68-02-2114, ROAP no. 21ADL-034, program elemrnt no. 1AB012. Issued Oct. 1977. Includes bibliographical references.