Parametric study on the separation of fine immiscible oil droplets from a gaseous stream using an electrostatic force

The interest in the development of efficient techniques for the separation of fine aerosols from moving gaseous media has grown considerably in recent years, both within the HVAC and refrigeration community as well as other similar industries. A major challenge faced by refrigeration systems is the removal of micron- and submicron-sized oil droplets from refrigerants. Electrostatic separators, when optimally designed, could potentially result in a highly efficient separation technology suitable for the above application. This experimental study provides insights into the physics of electrostatic separation in support of better understanding of the phenomenon and examining its potential for implementation in applications of practical significance. Specifically, the feasibility of using electrostatic forces to separate oil droplets from airflow was conducted. Parametric study analyzing the effects of the applied potential, emitter polarity, fluid velocity, and working fluid temperature on the performance of electrostatic separation were examined and discussed. The results of this study demonstrate that a separation efficiency as high as 99.99% can be achieved with very low power consumption. Collective findings may indicate a high potential for this technology for separation of fine aerosols from a gas flow.