This paper is aimed at investigating thoroughly the corona performance in the wirecylinder
electrostatic precipitor (ESP) without suspended particles. The onset voltage of
negative corona on the discharge wire is calculated based on the criterion of self-sustained
discharge. The ionized field in the ESP is mathematically modeled for calculating the spatial
distribution of the space-charge density due to the corona ions 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 current-voltage characteristics of the ESP.