The Behavior and Removal of Condensable Particulate Matter in Flue Gas in a Multi-Field Force: A Modeling and Experimental Study

Condensable particulate matter (CPM) is different from filterable particulate matter (FPM), which could escape from air pollution control devices (APCDs) and pose a great threat to the environment and human health. Thus, modeling and experimental studies were conducted on CPM particle behavior and removal, in a cold electrode electrostatic precipitator (CE-ESP) coupled with a electric field, temperature field and concentration field. A multi-field force coupling model was then established that was based on the mechanical behavior of particles inside the CE-ESP. The results showed that temperature field was beneficial to depositing small size particles and that, the greater the temperature gradient, the higher CPM's removal efficiency. While the electric field tended to gather larger size particles, the greater the voltage provided, the higher the removal efficiency for CPM and FPM. In the multi-field, the augmented coagulation and the removal efficiencies of both CPM and FPM increased significantly, reaching 89% and 98%, respectively. Subsequently, experiments were conducted by a self-made CE-ESP device, which showed the removal efficiencies of CE-ESP of a CPM in a multi-field were 91% and 81% for a coal-fired power plant and a waste incineration plant, respectively. This research could make a great contribution to CPM condensation, aggregation and removal.