PM₁₀ emissions from industrial coal-fired chain-grate boilers

Abstract

PM in submicron mode emitted from raw coal burning contribute to 33 % of PM₁₀.

PM in submicron mode from briquette coal burning contribute to 86 % of PM₁₀.

Collection efficiency of muticlones and scrubbers is 34% for submicron particle.

Peak of submicron mode in normal operation period is larger than start-up period.

Industrial coal-fired boiler is an important air pollutant emission source in China. The chain-grate boiler is the most extensively used type of industrial coal-fired boiler. An electrical low-pressure impactor, and a Dekati^® Low Pressure Impactor were applied to determine mass and number size distributions of PM₁₀ at the inlet and the outlet of the particulate emission control devices at six coal-fired chain-grate boilers. The mass size distribution of PM₁₀ generated from coal-fired chain-grate boilers generally displays a bimodal distribution that contains a submicron mode and a coarse mode. The PM in the submicron mode for burning with raw coal contributes to 33%±10 % of PM₁₀ emissions, much higher than those for pulverized boilers. And the PM in the submicron mode for burning with briquette contributes up to 86 % of PM₁₀ emissions. Multiclones and scrubbers are not efficient for controlling PM₁₀ emission. Their average collection efficiencies for sub-micron particle and super-micron particle are 34% and 78%, respectively. Operating conditions of industrial steam boilers have influence on PM generation. Peak of the submicron mode during normal operation period is larger than the start-up period.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

coal-fired chain-grate boiler / PM ₁₀ / size distribution / particulate emission control devices / size-dependent collection efficiency

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