(a) Used for removing particulate air pollutants. Removes about 99 of the particulate pollutants from the exhaust of thermal power plants.
Electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts, which release electrons.
Electrons become attached to dust particles giving a net negative charge. Collecting plates are grounded and attract the charged dust particles.
Velocity of air between the plates must be low enough to allow the dust particles to fall.
(b) If electrostatic precipitator of a thermal plant stops working, all the particulate pollutants get released and pollute the air.