The effects of corona wire distribution on characteristics of electrostatic precipitators were numerically studied. The electric field, charge density and removal efficiency were discussed at various S-ww/S-wp (ratio of wire-wire length to wire-plate length). The electric field and charge density had an oscillating distribution on the collecting plates. With the decrease of S-ww/S-wp, the electric field on collecting plates increased. The average corona current decreased continuously while the total current increased first and then decreased. The large particle removal efficiency increased continuously while the efficiency for small particles increased first and then decreased. The highest small particle removal efficiency was obtained at S-ww/S-wp = 12. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.