Co-benefit of hazardous trace elements capture in dust removal devices of ultra-low emission coal-fired power plants

Abstract

The co-benefit of hazardous trace elements such as mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and selenium (Se) capture in dust removal devices of ultra-low emission coal-fired power plants was investigated. Feed fuel and ash samples collected from 15 different coal-fired power units equipped with ultra-low emission systems were characterized to determine the concentrations and distribution characteristics of trace elements. It was found that the low-low temperature electrostatic precipitator (LLT-ESP) and the electrostatic fabric filter (EFF) had greater abatement capacity for Hg than normal cold-side ESP (CS-ESP). Only 0.8%–36.1% of Hg escaped from LLT-ESP and EFF, whereas 42.1%–90.6% of Hg escaped from CS-ESP. With the employment of EFF and ESP (inlet temperature<125 °C), 72.3%–99.1% of As and 70.7%–100% of Se could be captured before the wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system. The significance level of the effects on the abatement capacity for Hg, As, and Se in ESP were analyzed by the Pearson correlation analysis and grey relational analysis. The results indicated that the low inlet temperature of LLT-ESP had significant promotional effect on the simultaneous removal of Hg, As, and Se. The smaller particle size of fly ash can be conducive to the adsorption of hazardous trace elements. The inhibitory effect of sulfur content in coal was significant for the enrichment of Hg and Se in fly ash.