On-line analysis of the size distribution of fine and ultrafine aerosol particles in flue and stack gas of a municipal waste incineration plant: effects of dynamic process control measures and emission reduction devices.
The size distribution of particles in the waste gas of a municipal waste incineration plant (23 MW) was measured on-line at two sampling points in the flue-gas duct (700 and 300 degrees C) as well as in the stack gas (80 degrees C). The measurements were performed during both stable combustion conditions and transient operating conditions. The particle measurements were carried out by a mobile system consisting of a home-designed sampling system with dilution device and a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) for the particle size range 17-600 nm as well as an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) for the size range 500 nm-30 microm. The APS and SMPS data were combined using a special method and a home written software tool. The maximum of the particle-size distribution in the flue gas of the incinerator shifts from about 90 nm at the 700 degrees C sampling point to about 140 nm at the 300 degrees C point, showing the particle growth by coagulation processes and condensation of inorganic and organic gaseous species with decreasing temperature. This finding is consistent with the measured concentration profiles of gaseous organic chemical species in the flue gas. While at flue-gas temperatures of 600-800 degrees C a rich pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon species (PAH) is observable, the PAH concentrations are considerably reduced further downstream of the flue-gas channel, where the temperature drops below 500 degrees C. Condensation and reactive bonding of gaseous chemicals onto particulate matter is, among other reasons, responsible for the depletion of gas-phase species. Process control measures, such as firing the backup burners or cleaning of the grate with pressurized air, can cause dynamic changes of the particle-size distribution. Furthermore the flue-gas cleaning measures have great impact onto both the particle concentration and the size distribution. For this reason the impact of one particular emission reduction device, the wet electrostatic dust precipitator (wet-ESP), is evaluated. The wet-ESP reduces considerably the particle concentration over the whole size range. Behind the flue-gas processing units a broad maximum in the particle-size distribution occurs at about 70 nm, but no pronounced particle-size distribution could be observed. The particle concentration level atthis maximum is about 3 magnitudes lower than in the raw flue gas. However, intermittent periods lasting for several minutes of high emissions of ultrafine particles with d < 40 nm were observed. These particles are most likely formed by nucleation processes behind the wet-ESP from gas-phase constituents of the stack gas.
Institut für Okologische Chemie, GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Maguhn
Erwin
E
Karg
Antonius
A
Kettrup
Ralf
R
Zimmermann
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D017745:Incineration; D010316:Particle Size; D012037:Refuse Disposal
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants