ElectroCore separator for particulate air emissions

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:585373

Easom, B H; Smolensky, L A; Wysk, S R ^[1]

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1. LSR Technologies, Inc., Acton, MA (United States); and others

Coal combustion in fossil energy power systems releases trace amounts of chemical elements identified in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Most HAPs exist as solid phase particulate matter and are emitted to the atmosphere in this form. To reduce the emissions of these HAPs, a novel, high efficiency particle collection system known as the ElectroCore is being developed. The concept involves placing a high efficiency particle separator downstream of an underperforming electrostatic precipitator (ESP) that strips the particles from the incoming flow and returns them, along with a small amount of recirculation flow, back to the inlet of the ESP. The main component of the system is the ElectroCore separator. Its design is based on the mechanical Core Separator developed by LSR as a high efficiency centrifugal separator. Enhancing the Core Separator by adding an electrical field improves the separation efficiency of particles in the sub-micron range which is the range where centrifugal separation is ineffective. In the combined system, the centrifugal forces operating on the particles are augmented by electrostatic forces so that the ElectroCore has high separation efficiency for particles of all sizes. Field tests have shown than the ElectroCore operating downstream of an underperforming ESP can reduce the particulate emission rate to below 4.3 ng/J (0.01 lb{sub m}/Million Btu) even for ESPs with emission rates as high as 260 ng/J (0.6 lb{sub m}/million Btu). The ElectroCore system can perform with most all coal ranks or residual fuel oils(RFO)and has a potentially low capital cost.

• Research Organization: Coal and Slurry Technology Association, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 585373
• Report Number(s): CONF-980309--PROC.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COAL
COMBUSTION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
INERTIAL SEPARATORS