CERAMIC FILTER FOR PARTICULATE REMOVAL FROM FLUE GAS

AIRBORNE PARTICULATES FROM ATMOSPHERIC COAL-FIRED COMBUSTORS POSE BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH PROBLEMS. OF NOTABLE CONCERN IARE PARTICULATES OF LESS THANTEN MICRONS IN DIAMETER WHICH CAN REMAIN IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT IF INHALED. WHILE CONVENTIONAL POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICES SUCH AS FABRIC FILTER BAGHOUSES PROVIDE HIGH REMOVALEFFICIENCIES IN FLUE GAS SERVICE, THEY OFTEN REQUIRE LARGE AND COSTLY INSTALLATIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL, LOW COST, HIGH SURFACE AREA CERAMIC FILTER REPRESENTS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL DEVICES THAT IS ECONOMIC AND WELL-SUITED FOR OPERATION UNDER FLUCTUATING COMBUSTOR CONDITIONS. DURING PHASE I, CERAMIC FILTER ELEMENTS BASED ON HONEYCOMB MONOLITHS AND A SUITABLE STAINLESS STEEL HOUSING FOR THESE ELEMENTS WILL BE DEVELOPED. PROTOTYPE FILTERS WILL THEN BE DELIVERED TO THE COAL COMBUSTION TEST FACILITY OF EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY IN BAYTOWN, TX, FOR TESTINGON A FLUE GAS STREAM. FILTRATION RATES, FILTER PARTICULATE REMOVAL EFFICIENCY, AND FILTER REGENERATION BY GAS BACKPULSING WILL BE DEMONSTRATED. IN PHASE II, LARGER SCALE TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED TO ESTABLISH LONG TERM OPERATIONAL STABILITY.