Acoustic preconditioning of coal combustion fumes for enhancement of electrostatic precipitator performance: I. The acoustic preconditioning system

Abstract

A pilot scale acoustic preconditioning system is presented that sonifies fumes of a coal combustion process at very high acoustic sound pressure levels. This new technique leads to an increase of the fly ash's average particle size and, thus, to a performance enhancement of a subsequently employed electrostatic precipitator. This paper focuses on acoustic preconditioning and its underlying physical mechanisms as well as on the design and implementation of the technique in a pilot scale precondition chamber.