Concentration and size measurements of fly ash particles from the clean gas side of a pressurised pulverised coal combustion test facility

One of the most significant problems related to pressurised pulverised coal combustion (PPCC) is the separation of the fly ash at operating conditions (gas temperatures of 1400 °C and a pressure of (up to) 16 bar). To determine the efficiency of an advanced multi-stage separation device, which was made to deliver clean gas (upstream of a turbine) with a required maximum particle size smaller than 3 μm and a particle mass concentration of less than 3 mg/Nm3, a novel scattered light particle sizer (A 150-HDT) was developed. The device allows for measurements of a sample flow at a pressure of up to 16 bar and (to date) at temperatures of up to 450 °C (however, with further enhancements, up to 600 °C to 800 °C is expected). Several series of measurements using this device have been performed successfully at a PPCC test site, and results of two series – as well as results gained from LPI measurements – will be presented, which show a sufficiently high efficiency of the multi-stage separator in the supermicron size range for the last measurement series. The novel measurement device proved to be capable of measuring the required low particle concentrations with sufficient precision even under these demanding conditions, and the detected clean gas concentrations indicate a successful removal of the fly ash particles, which fulfils the requirements for feed gases entering a gas turbine.

Graphical AbstractA novel scattered light particle sizer was developed to measure the size distribution and concentration of fly ash particles in the clean gas of a PPCC test installation. The device allows for measurements at pressures of ≤ 16 bar and temperatures of ≤ 450 °C. Design aspects as well as exemplary measurements showing the performance of the instrument under real-world conditions are presented.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide