Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator

Abstract The emissions of filterable particulate matter (FPM) from stationary source flue gases are well-controlled, but condensable particulate matter (CPM) is becoming a growing concern as it’s more challenging to eliminate and poses a more significant environmental threat. Conventional air pollut...

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Main Authors: Wenting Liu, Bowen Zhao, Xin Wang, Jianyi Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-12-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230133
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author Wenting Liu
Bowen Zhao
Xin Wang
Jianyi Lu
author_facet Wenting Liu
Bowen Zhao
Xin Wang
Jianyi Lu
author_sort Wenting Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The emissions of filterable particulate matter (FPM) from stationary source flue gases are well-controlled, but condensable particulate matter (CPM) is becoming a growing concern as it’s more challenging to eliminate and poses a more significant environmental threat. Conventional air pollution control devices (APCDs) in coal-fired power plants have limited control over CPM. To address the issue, our research employed the Impact Condensation Method based on EPA Method 202 to test the emissions of CPM and FPM at the stack inlet in a coal-fired power plant. Additionally, a cold electrode electrostatic precipitator (CE-ESP) was installed to remove CPM. According to the study, CPM was emitted at the stack inlet with an average concentration of 30.2 mg Nm−3, which far exceeds the concentration of FPM (3.7 mg Nm−3) and the Chinese ultra-low emission (ULE) standard for particulate matter. Regarding emission characteristics, the most significant proportion of total detected anionic water-soluble was SO42− in CPM. Na and Ca were the most abundant elemental metal components, followed by Pb. The primary organic compounds found in CPM were hydrocarbons, olefins, and esters. This was further evidence of the environmental and human hazards of CPM. The removal of CPM is highly efficient with multi-field synergistic CE-ESP that combines temperature, electric, and concentration fields. The removal rate can reach up to 93%. The average CPM concentration after removal was 2.8 mg Nm−3, and the CE-ESP had a significant removal effect on SO42−, Ca, As, esters, and olefins from CPM. Moreover, the CE-ESP showed higher efficiency for the inorganic substance than the organic substance. The CPM concentration in the treated flue gas was significantly reduced and could meet the ULE standard before emission. This study indicated that the concentration of CPM was extremely high at the stack inlet. However, CE-ESP was able to remove CPM efficiently.
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spelling doaj-art-c20b77d06be449e9b9b6b207ae90d21b2025-02-09T12:24:46ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-12-0124211310.4209/aaqr.230133Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic PrecipitatorWenting Liu0Bowen Zhao1Xin Wang2Jianyi Lu3Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei Key Lab Power Plant Flue Gas Multipollutant, North China Electric Power UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei Key Lab Power Plant Flue Gas Multipollutant, North China Electric Power UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei Key Lab Power Plant Flue Gas Multipollutant, North China Electric Power UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei Key Lab Power Plant Flue Gas Multipollutant, North China Electric Power UniversityAbstract The emissions of filterable particulate matter (FPM) from stationary source flue gases are well-controlled, but condensable particulate matter (CPM) is becoming a growing concern as it’s more challenging to eliminate and poses a more significant environmental threat. Conventional air pollution control devices (APCDs) in coal-fired power plants have limited control over CPM. To address the issue, our research employed the Impact Condensation Method based on EPA Method 202 to test the emissions of CPM and FPM at the stack inlet in a coal-fired power plant. Additionally, a cold electrode electrostatic precipitator (CE-ESP) was installed to remove CPM. According to the study, CPM was emitted at the stack inlet with an average concentration of 30.2 mg Nm−3, which far exceeds the concentration of FPM (3.7 mg Nm−3) and the Chinese ultra-low emission (ULE) standard for particulate matter. Regarding emission characteristics, the most significant proportion of total detected anionic water-soluble was SO42− in CPM. Na and Ca were the most abundant elemental metal components, followed by Pb. The primary organic compounds found in CPM were hydrocarbons, olefins, and esters. This was further evidence of the environmental and human hazards of CPM. The removal of CPM is highly efficient with multi-field synergistic CE-ESP that combines temperature, electric, and concentration fields. The removal rate can reach up to 93%. The average CPM concentration after removal was 2.8 mg Nm−3, and the CE-ESP had a significant removal effect on SO42−, Ca, As, esters, and olefins from CPM. Moreover, the CE-ESP showed higher efficiency for the inorganic substance than the organic substance. The CPM concentration in the treated flue gas was significantly reduced and could meet the ULE standard before emission. This study indicated that the concentration of CPM was extremely high at the stack inlet. However, CE-ESP was able to remove CPM efficiently.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230133Condensable particulate matterMulti-field forceCold electrode precipitatorsDeep removalCoal-fired power plant
spellingShingle Wenting Liu
Bowen Zhao
Xin Wang
Jianyi Lu
Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Condensable particulate matter
Multi-field force
Cold electrode precipitators
Deep removal
Coal-fired power plant
title Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator
title_full Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator
title_fullStr Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator
title_full_unstemmed Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator
title_short Characterization and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas Studied with Cold Electrode Electrostatic Precipitator
title_sort characterization and removal of condensable particulate matter in flue gas studied with cold electrode electrostatic precipitator
topic Condensable particulate matter
Multi-field force
Cold electrode precipitators
Deep removal
Coal-fired power plant
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230133
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