Glossary
KPIs and measurements
Collection efficiency
Also known as collection efficiency, capture efficiency, ESP collection efficiency.
Collection efficiency is the fraction of inlet particulate captured by an ESP, baghouse, cyclone or other particulate-control device. It is calculated as (inlet mass loading − outlet mass loading) / inlet mass loading and reported as a percentage.
Typical values
| Device | Typical collection efficiency |
|---|---|
| Single cyclone separator | 70–90% |
| Multi-cyclone | 85–95% |
| Venturi scrubber | 95–99% |
| Electrostatic precipitator (modern) | 99.5–99.95% |
| Baghouse | 99.9–99.99% |
| Wet ESP (WESP) | 99.9% (especially fine PM) |
How fouling erodes collection efficiency
Each device fouls in characteristic ways that degrade its collection efficiency:
- ESP — back-corona, hopper bridging, re-entrainment
- Baghouse — bag blinding, cake bridging, bag failures
- Cyclone — wall build-up, dipleg pluggage
Sonic horns address the first three mechanisms in their respective applications.
Related terms
Related terms
- Electrostatic precipitatorAn ESP removes particulate from flue gas by charging dust and collecting it on plate electrodes. Sonic horns are widely used to dislodge ash from plates and to keep hoppers from bridging.
- BaghouseA baghouse is the structural enclosure that holds the bags, cages, tubesheet, cleaning system and hoppers of a fabric-filter dust collector. Sized in compartments for online isolation.
- Removal efficiencyRemoval efficiency is the fraction of a target pollutant removed by an emissions-control device. Used for gaseous pollutants (SCR NOx removal, FGD SO2 removal) parallel to PM collection efficiency.
- Specific collection areaSCA is the ratio of total collecting plate area to volumetric gas flow rate. It is the single most important sizing parameter for predicting ESP collection efficiency.