Abstract
Exhaust gases from internal combustion engines contain fine carbon particles. If a biofuel is used as the engine fuel for low-carbon emission, the exhaust gas still contains numerous carbon particles. For example, the ceramic filters currently used in automobiles with diesel engines trap these carbon particles, which are then burned during the filter regeneration process, thus releasing additional CO2. Electrostatic precipitators are generally suitable to achieve low particle concentrations and large treatment quantities. However, low-resistivity particles, such as carbon particles, cause re-entrainment phenomena in electrostatic precipitators. In this study, we develop an electrostatic precipitator to collect fine carbon particles. Woodceramics were used for the grounded electrode in the precipitator to collect carbon particles on the carbon electrode. Woodceramics are eco-friendly materials, made from sawdust. The electrical resistivity and surface roughness of the woodceramics are varied by the firing temperature in the production process. Woodceramics electrodes feature higher resistivity and roughness as compared to stainless-steel electrodes. We evaluated the influence of woodceramics electrodes on the electric field formed by electrostatic precipitators and calculated the corresponding charge distribution. Furthermore, the particle-collection efficiency of the developed system was evaluated using an experimental apparatus.
Highlights
In the interest of realizing a low carbon emission society, internal combustion engines powered by biofuels have been developed; the combustion of biofuels generates carbon particles similar to those generated from conventional fuels
Stainless-steel or aluminum are generally used as electrode materials in the electrostatic precipitator
We utilized a novel electrostatic precipitator to collect carbon particles on electrode based on charged particles and the Coulomb force
Summary
In the interest of realizing a low carbon emission society, internal combustion engines powered by biofuels have been developed; the combustion of biofuels generates carbon particles similar to those generated from conventional fuels. Filters made from porous cordierite, silicon carbide, steel mesh are often used to collect carbon particles suspended in the exhaust gases of boilers and internal combustion engines [1]. If the collected particles are gathered but not burned, the carbon density is higher than in the gas phase and the CO2 emission can be efficiently reduced. The particles are charged and collected on an electrode by the Coulomb force. When the target gases have low particle concentration and high flow rates, electrostatic precipitators are suitable for particle collection [2]. As the collected particles are charged to an inverse polarity relative to the polarity between the surface and the contacted grounded electrode, Energies 2019, 12, 2805; doi:10.3390/en12142805 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
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