Experimental investigation on removal of coal-fired fine particles by a condensation scrubber

The removal of coal-fired fine particles by heterogeneous condensation of water vapor in a scrubber was investigated. Supersaturated vapor phase necessary for the condensation growth of fine particles was achieved in the scrubbing zone as well as in the top of the scrubber by means of steam addition in the gas inlet and above the scrubbing liquid inlet, respectively. The condensation grown droplets were then removed by the scrubbing liquid and high-efficient demister. Influences of the steam addition amount, the temperature difference between the inlet gas and scrubbing liquid, and the liquid-to-gas ratio, etc. on removal efficiency were examined. The results show that with a steam addition amount of 0.04 kg/mSTP3 flue gas, number removal efficiencies of more than 60% and 70% can be attained for the two cases of steam addition, respectively. For the cases with steam addition in the gas inlet of scrubber, higher temperature difference between the inlet gas and scrubbing liquid enhances the removal of fine particles. Under the conditions of steam addition above the scrubbing liquid inlet, the removal efficiency decreases with increasing temperature difference. The removal efficiency can be effectively improved by increasing the liquid-to-gas ratio for both steam addition modes.