DETERMINATION OF CONDENSABLE PARTICULATE MATTER RELEASED BY THE COMBUSTION OF SOLID FUELS IN LOW-POWER BOILERS

Abstract

Despite significant emission control steps in recent decades, damage to air quality caused byparticulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 m or less is now a major concern on a global scale.Condensable particulate matters (CPM) due to their significant contribution to the totalconcentration of particulate matter and their small aerodynamic size (below 2.5 m) are now ofwidespread interest. CPMs produced in low-power solid fuel heating systems can be one of themain components of the total mass of fine particles present in the air we breathe. The operatingconditions of large power installations and small heating boilers differ significantly, therefore itis necessary to adapt the research methods adapted to industrial installations, to the low-powerboilers. In the tests, three fuels were combusted in two low-power boilers (18 kW boiler witha suction feeder and 5class 14 kW boiler with a screw feeder): bituminous coal, pine and sprucewood pellets and cereal straw pellets. An EPA 202 method was used to collect the CPM. Qualitativeand quantitative analyses of inorganic and organic CPM components were performed. Analysesof the inorganic part of the CPM included the determination of metals m.in Na, Ca, Fe, Mg, Al,K, and water-soluble ions, m.in SO42, Na+, K+ and Cl, while analyses of the organic part of theCPM comprised the determination of PAHs. Differences were observed in the amount of CPMgenerated depending on the fuel used and the type of low-power boiler used. CPM emissions arerelatively high and constitute a large part of total particulate matter, so the impact of CPM on theenvironment cannot be ignored and we should pay special attention to its research and control,especially from small solid fuel heating boilers.