Operating Engineer Practice Exam

Electrostatic precipitators are devices designed specifically to remove particulate matter, including fly ash and soot, from emissions in various industrial processes. These devices operate on the principle of electrostatic attraction: they charge particles as they pass through, allowing them to be collected on oppositely charged plates. This process is highly efficient in capturing fine particles, which makes electrostatic precipitators particularly valuable in applications where emission standards require a significant reduction of particulates.

In contrast, scrubbers are primarily used to remove gases or acidic pollutants from exhaust streams, while filters are generally employed to capture larger particles or mist but might not effectively handle all fine particulates in the same way electrostatic precipitators do. Heat exchangers, on the other hand, are used to transfer heat between two or more fluids and do not serve the purpose of removing pollutants from emissions.