Electrostatic precipitator and self cleaning collection belt therefor

An electrostatic precipitator for removing a particulate material, comprising:

• a housing having an internally formed air path communicating between an inlet for drawing polluted air containing particulate material and an air outlet for emitting clean air purified by removing the particulate material;
• an air stream generating means that generates an air stream;
• a discharging means that charges the particulate material;
• a collection device provided in the air stream to collect the particulate material which has been charged by the discharging means, said collection device including a collection belt;
• wherein said collection belt comprises a flat wire belt defining a three-dimensional collection surface, said flat wire belt having a plurality of collection surfaces defined in a thickness dimension of said flat wire belt disposed generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of said collection belt, said collection surfaces of said flat wire belt defining a surface area greater than a surface area of said flat wire belt defined in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of said collection belt.