Contents I. Introduction
Several electrostatic processes such as dust precipitation [1], powder coating [2], or separation of granular mixtures [3], [4] are based on the corona charging of particulate matter [5]–[8]. The corona–electrostatic fields generated by such electrode arrangements were the object of several experimental studies. Some of these focused on the corona inception conditions and proved that Peek's law can be employed for most situations of practical interest [9], [10]. Others evaluated the electric field generated by various electrode systems, as well as the charges and forces on conductive and insulating particles, in an attempt to clarify the physical phenomena involved in the electrostatic separation of granular mixtures [11], [12].
