The removal of airborne dust from swine housing by electrostatic precipitation

Methods researched to reduce swine housing dust concentrations include: (1) Dispersion with air recirculation and ventilation; (2) controlling the source through feeding and management practices, and (3) using mechanical air cleaners. An electrostatic precipitator was developed to remove airborne swine dust from an environmental chamber. A split-plot factorial experimental design was used to test the effects of applied voltage and airspeed on the collection efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator.; The migration velocity of the dust toward the collection plates increased with applied voltage. Industrial design equations were used to determine the effect of different precipitator lengths and inter-electrode spacings on collection efficiency. Collection efficiency increased by approximately 5% when the precipitator length was increased by 50%. Inter-electrode spacing had little effect on collection efficiency. An applied voltage of {dollar}-{dollar}12.1 kVDC produced ozone levels of 0.21 ppm which exceeded the recommended TLV of 0.1 ppm. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...