This paper is aimed at investigating thoroughly the corona performance in the wirecylinder
ESP with and without loading by suspended particles in the exhaust of a diesel
engine. The onset voltage of negative corona on the discharge wire is calculated based
on the criterion of self-sustained discharge. The ionized space between the discharge
wire and the collecting cylinder of the ESP is mathematically modeled for calculating
the spatial distribution of the space-charge density due to both the ions and the charged
particles as well as the components of the electric field including the applied field and
the field due to the space charge. This is in addition to the calculation of the currentvoltage
characteristics of the ESP with and without particle loading.