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FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a bearingless support structure and a method fcr
configurating a structure for electrostatic precipitators (ESP).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) is a pollution control equipment widely used
for collecting dust particles from flue gas exhausted by thermal power plants,
cement plants, steel plants and glass plants etc.
The ESP is supported on columns through knuckle - slide bearings. The purpose
of providing the bearings is to allow free thermal expansion with respect to a
chosen fixed point. This arrangement, is thus, practically free of thermal stresses
and other forces due to thermal expansion.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a bearingless
support structure for the electrostatic precipitators.
Another object of the invention is to propose a method for configuration a
bearingsless support structure for electrostatic precipitators.

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A further object of the present invention to propose a bearingless support
structure for the electrostatic precipitators, which is capable of supporting ESP-
columns ranging between 1 ton to 1000 tons.
A still another object of the present invention to propose a bearingless support
structure for the electrostatic precipitators, which is capable of accommodating
horizontal thermal expansion of 1mm to 100 mm.
A still further object of the present invention to propose a bearingless support
structure for the electrostatic precipitators, which is cost-effective and reduces
the production cycle time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly there is provided a bearingless support structure for the ESP, in
which flexible means are provided in the support structure so as to reduce the
thermal stresses and forces due to expansion. Accordingly, arrangement to
assess the level of thermal stresses and other forces developed is provided such
that the higher thermal stress and forces due to expansion, if exceeds beyond
the free-expansion limit, the flexible means provided causes reduction of the
thermal stress and forces to an acceptable limit, thereby eliminating the
requirement of the existing knuckle - slide bearings.
The invention further provides a method for configuration a bearings support
structure for the ESP. This would, apart form reducing the cost, reduce the cycle ,
time as one bought- out item is obviated.

Accordingly there is provided a bearingless support structure for the ESP, in
which flexible means are provided in the support structure so as to reduce the thermal stresses and forces due to expansion. Accordingly, arrangement to assess the level of thermal stresses and other forces developed is provided such that the higher thermal stress and forces due to expansion, if exceeds beyond
the free-expansion limit, the flexible means provided causes reduction of the
thermal stress and forces to an acceptable limit, thereby eliminating the requirement of the existing knuckle - slide bearings.
The invention further provides a method for configuration a bearings support
structure for the ESP. This would, apart form reducing the cost, reduce the cycle ,
time as one bought-out item is obviated.