Paper details

Title:

Comparative Long-Term Field and Test Stand Measurements at Small Scale Electrostatic Precipitators - Experiences and Measurement Strategies

Author(s):

Oehler, H., Hartmann, H.

Document(s):

Abstract:

PM­emissions from wood fired stoves and boilers are increasingly in the focus while emission limits are tightening in Europe. Small scale electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) can provide some remedy. Recent developments of such retrofit devices are aiming a larger market introduction, but their performance and optimization potential under real life operational conditions is yet largely unknown. A chimney­mounted ESP (by Ruftec AG) and a boiler attached ESP (by Spanner Re²) for residential heating applications were therefore tested under controlled test­stand conditions but also in dedicated long­term field measurement campaigns. It became obvious that significant deviations exist between type testing results and real life emissions. The chimney mounted ESP performed at an average efficiency of 63 % in the test stand while mean field test results were only slightly lower at 57 %. However, much more challenging flue gas conditions were mostly applied with the four different combustion units (2 stoves, 2 boilers) compared to the boiler­attached ESP, which was operating with a wood chip boiler and under variable operational conditions (several fuels and loads). A precipitation efficiency as high as 88 % was in average achieved on the test stand with this ESP­type or 83 % during a long­term field observation, respectively. Several observations for functional weaknesses can be used for further optimization, particularly concerning the chimney­top ESP which had a lower mean availability of 68 % over two heating seasons, compared to the boiler­mounted ESP (97 % availability over one month).

Keywords:

combustion, reduction, solid biofuel, small scale application, particle emission, electrostatic precipitator

Topic:

Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Cooling and Electricity

Subtopic:

Solid biofuels combustion for small and medium scale applications

Event:

22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

2AO.1.4

Pages:

381 - 387

ISBN:

978-88-89407-52-3

Paper DOI:

10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-2AO.1.4

Price:

FREE