In this study, a CFD model for the description of operation of electrostatic precipitators has been developed. The model is based on a theoretical analysis focused on the gas flow by time-averaged conservation equations of mass and momentum, on particulate flow and particle charging, and on the electric field and current flow equations. The model takes into consideration all the processes involved inside an industrial ESP, namely the fully coupled three coexisting fields of gas flow, particle dynamics and electrostatics. The model was extensively applied to a 2D geometry provided with detail: (a) the gas flow field (pressure, velocities, turbulence), (b) the particle history (trajectories, charge, velocities, residence time, fate, etc.), as well as particle-associated Eulerian variables (concentration, charge density, etc.), and (c) electrostatic parameters (potential, strength, ion current density). (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.