Study on the Effects of Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization on Particulate Matter Emission from Industrial Coal-Fired Power Plants

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) on particulate matter (PM) emissions in coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) using an electrical low-pressure impactor (ELPI). The investigation was conducted on five industrial CFPPs of various loads in China to clarify the influence factors of WFGD on PM10 emissions. After WFGD, the proportion of PM2.5 to PM10 in the outlet flue gas increases, which showed that the WFGD system is selective in the capture of PM, with a significant effect on the capture of large particle sizes. The investigation found that four spray layers have a better effect on the capture of particles than two spray layers. Additionally, the investigation also found that unit load is not the main factor affecting the efficiency of PM10 capture by WFGD. Instead, the factors affecting the capture efficiency of PM10 by WFGD are the inlet flue gas temperature and the dust concentration. Relatively higher inlet flue gas temperature and lower inlet dust concentration will both result in higher emission of PM0.1~1 from the WFGD outlet. These findings suggest that a matched integration of WFGD and CFPP is essential for ultra-low PM emission control and green industry development.