ESP Ozone
What is Ozone?
Ozone (O3) is created by passing an electrical current through air. Ozone is created inside an Electrostatic Precipitator when the ESP is energized under an "air" load.
Electrostatic Precipitator Ozone Safety
An electrostatic precipitator creates appreciable amounts of ozone, especially under an air load. High Voltage, negatively charged discharge electrodes, create a corona discharge within a confined area between two positively charged collecting electrodes (gas passages). When this occurs in the presence of oxygen, ozone is created. After the precipitator has been off-line for repairs or a unit outage, it is a common practice to "air-load" the precipitator to ensure that it is ready for service and free of grounds or other problems before the unit is brought back into operation. Many times work can still be in progress throughout the unit and its auxiliaries. If this is the case make sure that all personnel are out of the flue gas areas and stack downstream of the precipitator and that all access doors are closed before an electrical air load test is performed. This is also true of the immediate ductwork upstream of the precipitator. Levels of ozone produced during the air load test can be very high. Whenever there is a possibility that ozone will affect any personnel conducting operations in adjacent areas, the use of a continuous monitor, with an audible alarm is recommended. This monitor (monitors) should be placed in the work area at a level that will allow it to measure air concentrations at the workers' breathing zone. As with all aspects of industrial operations, safety should always be the first consideration.