High Temperature,High Pressure Electrostatic Precipitation

This paper presents the results of work conducted by Research-Cottrell under EPA contract 68-02-2104. The feasibility of electrostatic precipitation at temperatures and pressures varying from ambient condition to 1366°K and 3550 kPa, respectively, has been demonstrated in a laboratory wire-pipe electrode system. Stable corona discharges are obtained at all temperatures subject to appropriate choices of electrode dimension, polarity, and pressure. Current-voltage characteristics are reported for dry air, a simulated combustion gas, and a substitute fuel gas. The effects of temperature, pressure, electrode geometry and polarity on sparkover voltage, corona-starting voltage, and current are evaluated. A precipitator performance model is included to incorporate this data into a high temperature, high pressure precipitator design. This model has been evaluated for an electrostatic (HTHP) precipitator following a pressurized fluidized bed combustor at 1089 K and 920 kPa. It is recommended that prototype HTHP electrostatic precipitators be applied to pilot coal gasifiers and fluidized bed combustors to obtain detailed design data and to verify the accuracy of the performance model under actual operating conditions.     

Dioxins and their fingerprint in size-classified fly ash fractions from municipal solid waste incinerators in China--mechanical grate and fluidized bed units

The distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), in brief dioxins, has seldom been addressed systematically in fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). This study shows the amount and fingerprint of PCDD/Fs in fly ash from four different Chinese MSWIs, that is, three mechanical grate units and one circulating fluidized bed unit. In these fly ash samples, dioxins-related parameters (international toxic equivalent quantity, total amount of PCDD/Fs, individual isomer classes, and 17 toxic 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners) all tend to increase with decreasing particle size for mechanical grate incinerators, yet only for the finest fraction for fluidized bed units. Moreover, the fluidized bed incinerator seems superior to grate incineration in controlling dioxins, yet a comparison is hampered by internal differences in the sample, for example, the fluidized bed fly ash has much lower carbon and chlorine contents. In addition, the presence of sulfur from mixing coal as supplemental fuel to the MSW may poison the catalytic steps in dioxins formation and thus suppress the formation of dioxins. With more residual carbon and chlorine in the fly ash, it is easier to form dioxins during cooling. Nevertheless, there is no apparent relation between Fe, Cu, and Zn contents and that of dioxins in fly ash.     

Dioxins and their fingerprint in size-classified fly ash fractions from municipal solid waste incinerators in China—Mechanical grate and fluidized bed units

The distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), in brief dioxins, has seldom been addressed systematically in fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). This study shows the amount and fingerprint of PCDD/Fs in fly ash from four different Chinese MSWIs, that is, three mechanical grate units and one circulating fluidized bed unit. In these fly ash samples, dioxins-related parameters (international toxic equivalent quantity, total amount of PCDD/Fs, individual isomer classes, and 17 toxic 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners) all tend to increase with decreasing particle size for mechanical grate incinerators, yet only for the finest fraction for fluidized bed units. Moreover, the fluidized bed incinerator seems superior to grate incineration in controlling dioxins, yet a comparison is hampered by internal differences in the sample, for example, the fluidized bed fly ash has much lower carbon and chlorine contents. In addition, the presence of sulfur from mixing coal as supplemental fuel to the MSW may poison the catalytic steps in dioxins formation and thus suppress the formation of dioxins. With more residual carbon and chlorine in the fly ash, it is easier to form dioxins during cooling. Nevertheless, there is no apparent relation between Fe, Cu, and Zn contents and that of dioxins in fly ash.

Implications This paper is of interest because it presents the amounts and distribution of PCDD/Fs in fly ash samples from some typical waste incineration plants in China, featuring distinct incinerator types, combustion conditions, fuel composition, or residual carbon, chloride, and heavy metal contents in fly ash.     

Comparison of CaO’s effect on the fate of heavy metals during thermal treatment of two typical types of MSWI fly ashes in China

Both grate and fluidized bed incinerators are widely used for MSW incineration in China. CaO addition for removing hazardous emissions from MSWI flue gas changes the characteristics of fly ash and affects the thermal behavior of heavy metals when the ash is reheated. In the present work, two types of MSWI fly ashes, sampled from both grate and fluidized bed incinerators respectively, were thermal treated at 1023–1323 K and the fate of heavy metals was observed. The results show that both of the fly ashes were rich in Ca and Ca-compounds were the main alkaline matter which strongly affected the leaching behavior of heavy metals. Ca was mostly in the forms of Ca(OH)₂ and CaCO₃ in the fly ash from grate incinerator in which nascent fly ash particles were covered by Ca-compounds. In contrast, the content of Ca was lower in the fly ash from fluidized bed incinerator and Ca was mostly in the form of CaSO₄. Chemical reactions among Ca-compounds caused particle agglomeration in thermal treated fly ash from grate incinerator, restraining the heavy metals volatilization. In thermal treated fly ash from fluidized bed incinerator, Ca was converted into aluminosilicates especially at 1323 K which enhanced heavy metals immobilization, decreasing their volatile fractions as well as leaching concentrations. Particle agglomeration hardly affected the leaching behavior of heavy metals. However, it suppressed the leachable-CaCrO₄ formation and lowered Cr leaching concentration.     

Trace metal emissions from co-combustion of refuse derived and packaging derived fuels in a circulating fluidized bed boiler

Energy recovery from refuse derived fuels (RDF) and packaging derived fuels (PDF) is one option in integrated waste management. Nine RDF and PDF co-combustion tests with peat and coal in a circulating fluidized bed boiler were carried out in this work. Heavy metal emissions in flue gas and fly ash were measured. Multivariate data analyses were used to find out the most important parameters affecting metal emissions in the flue gas.

The results showed that total heavy metal emissions were low. Although RDF and PDF had more heavy metals than peat and coal, the multivariate data analysis showed that an increase of the RDF or PDF share in the fuel mixture up to 20% did not correlate directly with the metal emissions in the flue gas. Distribution of Cd, Cu, Zn and Sn between flue gas and fly ash correlated with each other. Injection of limestone to bind sulphur and chlorine did not have a significant effect on heavy metal emissions in the flue gas. Heavy metals concentrated on the fly ash, but all fly ashes passed the EPA-TCLP tests.     

Minnesota Power’s Operating Experience with Integrated Particulate and SO2 Scrubbing

Minnesota Power currently has in commercial operation a 500 MW gas cleaning system consisting of a venturi particulate scrubber, integrated with a spray tower SO₂ absorber. The system was designed to achieve 99.7% particulate removal and 90% SO₂ removal based upon burning a 2.8 % sulfur coal.

Initially the concept of using a venturi for wet particulate collection was selected based upon a significant cost saving of $25 million compared to dry particulate collection devices. Subsequently, the Interaction of particulate collection with SO₂ removal provided additional operating cost benefits. Prior to start-up of the commercial system, a pilot plant was used to evaluate various modes of operation. Results showed that alkali contained in the fly ash removed with the venturi was sufficient to meet the alkali requirement for SO₂ removal.

Clay Boswell Station Unit No. 4 was started up during March 1980. Since initial start-up the system has exhibited almost 100% availability. EPA compliance testing has confirmed that the system Is meeting its emission standards. The unit is operating with fly ash as the only source of alkali. Since commercial operation started, no external alkali has been purchased.

This paper will discuss the design details of the system and performance of the commercial system.     

Experimental study on the removal of PAHs using in-duct activated carbon injection

This paper presents the incineration tests of municipal solid waste (MSW) in a fluidized bed and the adsorption of activated carbon (AC) on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). An extraction and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was used to analyze the concentrations of the 16 US EPA specified PAHs contained in raw MSW, flue gas, fly ash, and bottom ash. The aim of this work was to decide the influence of AC on the distribution of PAHs during the incineration of MSW. Experimental researches show that there were a few PAHs in MSW and bottom ash. With the increase of AC feeding rate, the concentrations of three- to six-ring PAHs in fly ash increased, and the concentration of two-ring PAH decreased. The total-PAHs in flue gas were dominated by three-, and four-ring PAHs, but a few two-, five-ring PAHs and no six-ring PAHs were found. PAHs could be removed effectively from flue gas by using in-duct AC injection and the removal efficiencies of PAHs were about 76-91%. In addition, the total toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations of PAH in raw MSW, bottom ash, fly ash, and flue gas were 1.24 mg TEQ kg-1, 0.25 mg TEQ kg-1, 6.89-9.67 mg TEQ kg-1, and 0.36-1.50 microg TEQ Nm-3, respectively.     

Dioxins/furans emissions from fluidized bed combustion of salt-laden hog fuel

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/furans (PCDD/F) were formed in substantial quantities in a pilot-scale fluidized bed combustor burning salt-laden waste wood, a common fuel for Canadian coastal pulp and paper mills. Formation of PCDD/F increased with increasing chloride content in the feed, and appeared to correlate with the chlorine content in the fly ash. It took a very long time for the ash chlorine content to stabilize, suggesting that chlorine transferred slowly from the flue gas to the ash. The baghouse may contribute largely to formation of the PCDD/F, owing to its temperature range and the potentially long residence time for ash particles. Controlling the baghouse temperature to reduce the PCDD/F formation in the baghouse should be effective in reducing the total emission level. While sulphur addition was found to reduce the emission level by as much as 90%, the emission level was still above the regulated level for the mills burning salt-laden wood under the conditions of the present study. No relation between the emission level and CO concentration in the flue gas was observed.     

The Relationship between the Quantity of Heavy Metal and PAHs in Fly Ash

ABSTRACT

Heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in flue gas have received considerable attention in recent years due to their mutagenic or carcinogenic properties. The present study is carried out to investigate the influence of the quantity of heavy metals on PAHs formation in fly ash.

A fluidized bed incinerator was used in this experiment to obtain fly ash of chemical similarity by incinerating various compositions of waste. The obtained fly ash, both with and without heavy metal, were used to adsorb the PAHs in the flue gas and to investigate the formation of PAHs in fly ash. The results indicate that carbon and heavy metals most greatly influence the formation of PAHs in the fly ash. Carbon is absorptive; heavy metals encourage not only absorption of PAHs but also catalyze PAHs formation.     

Predicting extents of mercury oxidation in coal-derived flue gases

The proposed mercury (Hg) oxidation mechanism consists of a 168-step gas phase mechanism that accounts for interaction among all important flue gas species and a heterogeneous oxidation mechanism on unburned carbon (UBC) particles, similar to established chemistry for dioxin production under comparable conditions. The mechanism was incorporated into a gas cleaning system simulator to predict the proportions of elemental and oxidized Hg species in the flue gases, given relevant coal properties (C/H/O/N/S/Cl/Hg), flue gas composition (O2, H2O, HCl), emissions (NO(X), SO(X), CO), the recovery of fly ash, fly ash loss-on-ignition (LOI), and a thermal history. Predictions are validated without parameter adjustments against datasets from lab-scale and from pilot-scale coal furnaces at 1 and 29 MWt. Collectively, the evaluations cover 16 coals representing ranks from sub-bituminous through high-volatile bituminous, including cases with Cl2 and CaCl2 injection. The predictions are, therefore, validated over virtually the entire domain of Cl-species concentrations and UBC levels of commercial interest. Additional predictions identify the most important operating conditions in the furnace and gas cleaning system, including stoichiometric ratio, NO(X), LOI, and residence time, as well as the most important coal properties, including coal-Cl.     

Predicting Extents of Mercury Oxidation in Coal-Derived Flue Gases

Abstract

The proposed mercury (Hg) oxidation mechanism consists of a 168-step gas phase mechanism that accounts for interaction among all important flue gas species and a heterogeneous oxidation mechanism on unburned carbon (UBC) particles, similar to established chemistry for dioxin production under comparable conditions. The mechanism was incorporated into a gas cleaning system simulator to predict the proportions of elemental and oxidized Hg species in the flue gases, given relevant coal properties (C/H/O/N/S/Cl/Hg), flue gas composition (O₂, H₂O, HCl), emissions (NO_X, SO_X, CO), the recovery of fly ash, fly ash loss-on-ignition (LOI), and a thermal history. Predictions are validated without parameter adjustments against datasets from lab-scale and from pilot-scale coal furnaces at 1 and 29 MW_t. Collectively, the evaluations cover 16 coals representing ranks from sub-bituminous through high-volatile bituminous, including cases with Cl₂ and CaCl₂ injection. The predictions are, therefore, validated over virtually the entire domain of Cl-species concentrations and UBC levels of commercial interest. Additional predictions identify the most important operating conditions in the furnace and gas cleaning system, including stoichiometric ratio, NO_X, LOI, and residence time, as well as the most important coal properties, including coal-Cl.     

A New Method to Assess Mercury Emissions: A Study of Three Coal-Fired Electric-Generating Power Station Configurations

Abstract

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 7473 for the analysis of mercury (Hg) by thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectroscopy has proved successful for use in Hg assessment at coal-fired power stations. In an analysis time of ～5 min per sample, this instrumental methodology can directly analyze total Hg—with no discrete sample preparation—in the solid matrices associated with a coal-fired power plant, including coal, fly ash, bottom ash, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) material. This analysis technique was used to investigate Hg capture by coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) in three different coal-fired power plant configurations. Hg capture and associated emissions were estimated by partial mass balance. The station equipped with an FGD system demonstrated 68% capture on FGD material and an emissions estimate of 18% (11 kg/yr) of total Hg input. The power plant equipped with low oxides of nitrogen burners and an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) retained 43% on the fly ash and emitted 57% (51 kg/yr). The station equipped with conventional burners and an ESP retained less than 1% on the fly ash, emitting an estimated 99% (88 kg/yr) of Hg. Estimated Hg emissions demonstrate good agreement with EPA data for the power stations investigated.     

流化床垃圾焚烧炉产生的有毒二噁英同类物分布研究

测定了流化床垃圾焚烧炉焚烧产生的飞灰、烟尘和烟气中的2，3，7，8位氯取代二噁英同类物的含量及其毒性当量。结果表明，产生的二噁英主要存在于飞灰中，烟气中的含量很少。飞灰中二噁英总浓度和毒性当量分别为8.44ng／g和0．80ng／g，经过布袋除尘器后的烟尘和烟气中二噁英的浓度之和与毒性当量之和分别为0．34ng／m^3和0．02ng／m^3，而布袋除尘器前的烟尘和烟气中二噁英的浓度之和与毒性当量之和分别为40．78ng／m^3和3．0ng／m^3。飞灰和烟尘中2，3，7，8位氯取代二噁英同类物的分布相似，但是与烟气中2，3，7，8位氯取代二噁英同类物的分布差别较大。通过了解有毒二噁英同类物的分布，可以进一步优化流化床垃圾焚烧炉的焚烧条件，降低二噁英的排放量，减少垃圾焚烧对环境的污染。     

Effects of Design and Fuel Moisture on Incinerator Effluents

The particle and gas properties that profoundly affect design and performance of fly ash precipitators are discussed and evaluated in this section. Relation of the coal burned to these properties and to the precipitator gas cleaning problem is broadly examined. The need for a high order of technology consistently applied to cope successfully with the wide and often uncertain variations in coal and ash properties encountered in precipitation practices is emphasized.     

城市下水污泥焚烧过程中二次污染物排放特性的试验研究

在0．15MWt循环流化床燃烧试验台上进行了城市下水污泥与煤的混烧试验，分析了烟气中的二次污染物排放特性。分析结果表明，利用循环流化床焚烧城市下水污泥时，添加辅助燃料（如煤）及改变焚烧条件，不仅可以达到稳定燃烧的目的，而且有利于抑制焚烧中二次污染物（如CO及二恶英等有机污染物）的生成。分析了焚烧污泥污染物的排放特性。为采用焚烧方式处理城市下水污泥提供了基础性试验数据。     

城市下水污泥焚烧过程中二次污染物排放特性的试验研究

在0.15 MWt循环流化床燃烧试验台上进行了城市下水污泥与煤的混烧试验,分析了烟气中的二次污染物排放特性.分析结果表明,利用循环流化床焚烧城市下水污泥时,添加辅助燃料(如煤)及改变焚烧条件,不仅可以达到稳定燃烧的目的,而且有利于抑制焚烧中二次污染物(如CO及二恶英等有机污染物)的生成.分析了焚烧污泥污染物的排放特性,为采用焚烧方式处理城市下水污泥提供了基础性试验数据.     

A new method to assess mercury emissions: a study of three coal-fired electric-generating power station configurations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 7473 for the analysis of mercury (Hg) by thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectroscopy has proved successful for use in Hg assessment at coal-fired power stations. In an analysis time of approximately 5 min per sample, this instrumental methodology can directly analyze total Hg--with no discrete sample preparation--in the solid matrices associated with a coal-fired power plant, including coal, fly ash, bottom ash, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) material. This analysis technique was used to investigate Hg capture by coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) in three different coal-fired power plant configurations. Hg capture and associated emissions were estimated by partial mass balance. The station equipped with an FGD system demonstrated 68% capture on FGD material and an emissions estimate of 18% (11 kg/yr) of total Hg input. The power plant equipped with low oxides of nitrogen burners and an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) retained 43% on the fly ash and emitted 57% (51 kg/yr). The station equipped with conventional burners and an ESP retained less than 1% on the fly ash, emitting an estimated 99% (88 kg/yr) of Hg. Estimated Hg emissions demonstrate good agreement with EPA data for the power stations investigated.     

Mercury Balance on a Large Pulverized Coal-Fired Furnace

This paper presents results of a survey of mercury concentrations in coal, ash, water, fly ash, and flue gas discharges from a 5.5 × 10⁶ Ib/hr steam generator serving a 775 MW (net) turbine-generator set. Representative composite or grab samples were obtained for inlet coal and outlet ash and water. Stack samples were obtained for fly ash and mercury vapor emissions while the unit was operated at 660 MW (net) (85% of full load). Samples were analyzed by anodic stripping voltammetry, plasma emission spectroscopy, and neutron activation analysis to determine mercury concentration entering the furnace in the coal and leaving the furnace in the flue gas, fly ash, bottom and hopper ash, and water. Method inter-comparisons are discussed. A material balance for mercury has been calculated from fuel, ash, and stack gas flow rates. About 90% of the mercury in the coal is released and appears as vapor discharged in the stack gas while 10% remains in the residual ash. For a 700 MW (net) unit, about 5 lb/day of mercury vapor is released to the atmosphere.     

Incineration of Paper Sludge in a Prototype Vortexing Fluidized Bed Combustor

ABSTRACT

All experiments were carried out in a prototype vortexing fluidized bed combustor (VFBC). The dimension of the combustion chamber is 0.7 x 1.4 x 2 m, and the freeboard section is 1 m i.d. and 4 m in height. Paper sludge was used as the feeding material. Two types of coal particles were employed as the supplementary fuel. In order to understand the characteristics of the VFBC system for paper sludge incineration, the effect of various operating parameters, such as the primary airflow, excess air ratio, and secondary airflow rates, on temperature distribution, ash elutriation, combustion efficiency, and pollutant emissions were investigated.     

Incineration of paper sludge in a prototype vortexing fluidized bed combustor

All experiments were carried out in a prototype vortexing fluidized bed combustor (VFBC). The dimension of the combustion chamber is 0.7 x 1.4 x 2 m, and the freeboard section is 1 m i.d. and 4 m in height. Paper sludge was used as the feeding material. Two types of coal particles were employed as the supplementary fuel. In order to understand the characteristics of the VFBC system for paper sludge incineration, the effect of various operating parameters, such as the primary airflow, excess air ratio, and secondary airflow rates, on temperature distribution, ash elutriation, combustion efficiency, and pollutant emissions were investigated.