Impact of Materials of Construction: Metal Thickness and Stainless Steel

Corrosive or other adverse operating conditions may require specifications of thicker metal sections in the precipitator. Metal thickness can be moderately increased with minimal cost increases. For example, collection plates are typically constructed of 18-gauge mild steel. Most ESP manufacturers can increase the section thickness by 25% without significant design changes or increases in manufacturing costs of more than a few percent. Changes in the type of material can increase the purchase cost of the ESP significantly. Using type 304 stainless steel instead of 18-gauge mild steel for collection plates and precipitator walls can increase costs 30-50%. Using even more expensive materials for all elements of the ESP can increase costs up to several hundred percent. Based on the carbon steel 18-gauge cost, the approximate factors given below can be used for other materials.

                                                 ESP costs using various materials