Fabric Selection for Coal-fired Boilers is Hot Topic Hour on October 28, 2010
The CAIR Replacement Rule (SO2and NOx), Regional Haze (SO2, NOx, PM), NAAQS Revisions (PM2.5, Ozone, SO2, NO2) and the Utility MACT (Hg, Acid Gases, Non-Hg Metallic HAPs, and Organic HAPs) will all act to drive total particulate emissions limits for coal-fired power plants to near detection levels. Fabric filters will be one of the more important technologies utilized by utilities to achieve the reductions in fine particulate emissions soon to be mandated.
Fabric filters have been utilized for years to control large particulate emissions from power plants and typically the selection criteria for a plant engineer has focused on life expectancy and operating cost. However, in the near future, the key criteria may well change to finding a filter media that will achieve the regulated emission limit given the specific characteristics of the plant.
Over the past ten years, significant advances in the technology of fabric filters have been made that will help utilities meet the coming requirements to capture PM2.5. There is now a wide choice of filter media for coal-fired boilers including woven glass, nonwovens and membranes. But there are also big differences in performance and life expectancy based on the temperature, moisture and oxygen content, SO2, SO3 and other acid gas mist concentrations in the gas entering a baghouse as well as type and quantity of additives injected upstream to control other pollutants. Although collection efficiency may be the driving criteria, once the efficiency is adequate to meet the regulations, bag life (strength, corrosion and temperature resistance, loss of permeability, cleaning method), pressure losses and maintenance problems will also need to be considered when electing the most economical media.
The following speakers will discuss the impact of the coming regulations on filter media selection, their current experience with control of fine particulates with fabric filters and address the advantages or disadvantages of the various fabric filter options available to reduce fine particulate emissions for specific plant configurations and operating conditions.
Chet Moon, Technical and Applications Manager at Toray Fluorofibers America, will describe the broad portfolio of fibers Toray offers for filtration applications. These fibers offer excellent chemical and thermal resistance. Currently, Toray PPS TORCON® is the most suitable fiber to meet most of the filtration needs of coal-fired boilers. However, when higher temperatures or more chemical resistance is needed, Toray offers Tefaire® and Teflon® products to meet these needs.
John Darrow, Energy Market Specialist at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., will tell the attendees how to get the most out of their baghouse with ePTFE membrane filter media. Pending changes in emissions regulations and fuel switching are creating more demanding conditions for fabric filter systems. In some cases, the standard filter media offered by the original equipment manufacturer can no longer meet performance expectations (emissions, pressure drop and/or bag life). Upgrading to a high performance expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane filter media can be a significant investment. This presentation will tell you how to get a good return on your filter media investment through (1) system evaluation, (2) system optimization and (3) preventive maintenance practices.
John D. McKenna, Ph.D., principal and founder of ETS, Inc., will discuss the impact of PM2.5 legislation on filter bag performance alternatives. His presentation will cover the evolution of the standard test methods regarding PM2.5 removal by baghouse filtration media including EPA’s ETV Generic Verification Protocol for Baghouse Filtration Products, ASTM D 6830, and the proposed ISO method. Next, the available filter media options for pulse jet and reverse air baghouses with an overview of specific experiences will be detailed. Finally, the importance of a good QA/QC plan and a bag monitoring program will be discussed.
Tom Anderson of Midwesco Filter Resources, TDC Filter the choices available for collector type, element design and media type and how to select the combination to achieve maximum filter efficiency.
Charles Barranger, Senior Consultant at EPSCO International, Inc., will discuss the criteria for selecting filter media and techniques for improving the performance of filters to achieve lower particulate emissions. He will focus on the Fabric Filter design, operation and quality that can impact overall particulate emissions at the Fabric Filter discharge.
Greg Carleton, President of Pollution Control Services, Inc.
To register for the "Hot Topic Hour" on October 28, 2010 at 10 a.m. CDT (Chicago time), click on: on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm
Bob McIlvaine
President
847 784 0012 ext 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com