The Working Principles of Oil Fume Purifiers Revealed: Why Have Electrostatic Precipitators Become Mainstream?

Among the many oil fume purifier technologies, electrostatic precipitators have become a mainstream option in the catering and industrial sectors due to their high purification capabilities. How do they achieve precise treatment of micron-sized oil fume particles? The following section provides a step-by-step analysis.

1. Electrostatic Adsorption: Achieving Oil Fume Purification in Three Steps

The core of electrostatic adsorption technology is to simulate the ionization and adsorption phenomena found in natural lightning and apply them to the oil fume purification process. It consists of three main steps:

Lonization Charging:

When exhaust gas enters the purifier, it first encounters a high-voltage ionization zone. The serrated electrodes here generate high-voltage direct current (DC) of up to 10-15 kV, creating a powerful electric field. This electric field ionizes air molecules, generating a large number of positive and negative ions. Tiny oil droplets and particulate matter in the fume, as they pass through this area, capture these ions and become charged, paving the way for subsequent adsorption and separation.

Electrostatic Adsorption:

Charged fume particles follow the airflow into the dust collection area, which consists of a series of parallel collecting plates. High-voltage DC is also applied between the plates, but with opposite polarity to that of the ionization zone. Based on the principle of "opposites attract," the charged fume particles are quickly and precisely attracted to the collecting plates. Experimental data shows that this adsorption method can achieve a removal rate of up to 98% for particles larger than 0.1 microns, effectively treating PM2.5, oil mist, tar particles, and other pollutants.

Aggregation and Dropleting:

Separating Oil from Gas: Oil droplets adsorbed on the collecting plates gradually coalesce and fuse into larger droplets under the combined influence of gravity and intermolecular forces. When the droplets are large enough, they slide down the plate surface and eventually drip into the oil collection tank at the bottom of the device, automatically separating the oil from the purified gas. The collected waste oil can be centrally processed to prevent secondary environmental pollution.

2. Significant Advantages of Electrostatic Adsorption Technology

Ultra-High Purification Efficiency:

The highly efficient capture of fine oil fume particles keeps emission concentrations far below national standards (typically < 1.0 mg/m³), making it particularly suitable for areas with stringent oil fume emission standards, such as city center dining districts and commercial complexes near residential areas.

Synergic Deodorization:

Many electrostatic precipitators can be combined with UV photolysis or activated carbon deodorization modules. While purifying cooking fumes, it can deeply decompose and absorb odor molecules (such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), effectively removing pungent odors like chili and barbecue flavors produced during cooking, creating fresh air for the surrounding environment.

Structural Design Optimization:

Some high-end electrostatic precipitators utilize a unique dense honeycomb structure dust collection unit. Compared to traditional plate-line electric fields, this significantly increases the dust collection area and improves adsorption efficiency. The electric field intensity is also more evenly distributed, reducing purification dead spots caused by insufficient localized electric field strength. Furthermore, this structure offers improved wind resistance, maintaining stable purification results even at high air volumes.

3. Technological Upgrades Promote Industry Development

Modular Electric Field Design:

The new generation of electrostatic precipitators utilizes a modular electric field design, with each electric field unit independently removable and installable. When cleaning or maintenance is required, the entire machine can be disassembled and removed individually, significantly reducing maintenance time and ease of operation. For large-scale catering operations or industrial workshops with continuous production, this design reduces losses caused by equipment downtime. It also allows users to flexibly adjust the number of electric field modules based on actual fume treatment capacity, enabling personalized equipment configuration.

Automatic Cleaning Function Upgrade:

To address the problem of oil accumulation on the dust collecting plates during long-term operation, electrostatic precipitators can be equipped with an optional timed automatic cleaning system. Using a pre-set cleaning cycle, the system activates a high-pressure spray system during off-hours to flush the dust collecting plates and remove any adhered oil into the oil collection tank. This feature not only reduces the frequency and intensity of manual cleaning but also prevents the loss of purification efficiency caused by excessive oil accumulation on the plates, ensuring consistent treatment results.

Electrostatic adsorption technology, with its high efficiency, stability, and scalability, has dominated the fume purifier market. With continued technological innovation, it will provide more reliable, intelligent, and environmentally friendly solutions for fume treatment in the catering and industrial sectors, contributing to the industry's pursuit of green and sustainable development.