The present numerical study involves the finding of the collection efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) using a finite volume (ANUPRAVAHA) solver for the Navier–Stokes and continuity equations, along with the Poisson’s equation for electric potential and current continuity. The particle movement is simulated using a Lagrangian approach to predict the trajectory of single particles in a fluid as the result of various forces acting on the particle. The ESP model consists of three wires and three collecting plates of combined length of L placed one after another. The calculations are carried out for a wire-to-plate spacing H= 0.175 m, length of ESP L= 2.210 m and wire-to-wire spacing of 0.725 m with radius of wire Rwire= 10 mm and inlet air-particle velocity of 1.2 m/s. Different electrical potentials (φ= 15–30 kV) are applied to the three discharge electrodes wires. It is seen that the particle collection efficiency of the ESP increases with increasing particle diameter, electrical potential and plate length for a given inlet velocity. © 2015, Indian Academy of Sciences.