Electrostatic precipitator (ESP) pollution control units (PCU) play an essential role in certain commercial kitchen ventilation systems as they carry out the important job of removing grease, smoke, and odor from kitchen exhaust before it exits to the environment.  While self-cleaning ESP pollution control units utilize automated washdown cycles to minimize routine maintenance, manual maintenance tasks are still required. To ensure efficacy and efficiency of the unit, it is critical to plan for routine maintenance far before the unit is installed and in use. Planning ahead can help prevent any incremental costs that could be associated with improper maintenance in the future. At the design phase, understanding the maintenance required for ESP pollution control units allows the engineer to design a system that makes it easy and safe for maintenance to be performed. Prior to installation, it can also be beneficial for the contractor to understand the maintenance tasks and their associated access requirements. This helps ensure that the unit is installed correctly and with the necessary clearance for access. For owners and operators incorporating an electrostatic precipitator PCU into their ventilation system, it is beneficial to understand the maintenance requirements to build a schedule and anticipate the ongoing costs before committing to the process.

In order to ensure maintenance tasks can be easily completed, the engineer must design a system where the PCU is situated in a location where it can be accessed without difficulty. Engineers can consult equipment manuals to gain an understanding of the maintenance and clearance required for the impingement filters, mist eliminator filters, ESP cells, carbon trays, detergent dispenser, fan and motor.

Reference drawings provide space requirements that inform the engineer’s design to allow for opening the doors of the unit to access its components, as well as potential motor clearances. In addition to designing ample space around the unit, the system must be designed in a way that makes it easy to get to and from the PCU while carrying tools, equipment or unit parts.

For instance, one maintenance task is servicing the electrostatic precipitator cells, which weigh approximately 35 pounds. In order to best carry out this task, especially when units have 2 or 3 rows of ESP cells, the system would ideally be designed so that it is on a flat surface and ample open space surrounds the unit. If situated exterior to the building, the unit would ideally be placed on a flat roof deck. In applications where the unit is mounted indoors, the best option is to house it in a mechanical room where the technician can reach all elements of the unit without having to climb or use ladders. If the unit must be mounted in the ceiling, provisions, like a catwalk, must be in place. By understanding these needs at the design stage, the engineer and contractor can ensure the PCU can be accessed easily and serviced safely.

Other important factors to consider in the design phase are the placement of the user interface and the detergent tank for the pollution control unit. Placing these components in a readily accessible and highly visible location allows the staff to monitor detergent usage and ensure the wash cycle is being completed, as well as see alerts to any faults in the system as soon as they occur. Being immediately alerted to any potential issues empowers staff to engage a qualified technician quickly. Rectifying issues promptly leads to reduced downtime and prevents issues from escalating and becoming more costly.

For operators, it is important to understand an ESP pollution control unit’s necessary maintenance in order to financially plan for any service costs and to ensure that there will be funds set aside to accommodate routine maintenance. While the frequency of maintenance and hourly rate of partnering with a factory authorized service (FAS) provider will vary, it is possible to anticipate approximate costs. The frequency and type of maintenance required for a PCU is determined by a variety of site-specific factors, such as the type of cooking, the grease level in the airstream, the type of PCU, and the hood filter type. As such, the maintenance frequency and cost should ultimately be determined based on these conditions. The manufacturer instructions provided in the manual can be consulted as a starting point for determining a potential maintenance schedule and calculating costs. Once the system is in full operation under its normal cooking load, the maintenance frequency should be reviewed with the factory authorized service provider and adjusted as needed to maintain the unit for successful operation and minimize maintenance costs.

With routine maintenance, an electrostatic precipitator PCU will be able to efficiently perform its function of filtering grease, smoke and odor from the kitchen exhaust – keeping things running smoothly in the kitchen and meeting environmental standards outside. Planning ahead for proper unit placement and maintenance costs make it possible to carry out the necessary tasks while minimizing problems or surprises once the unit is in use. To start building your ventilation system plan,  contact your local Accurex representative.