A Review of Electrostatically Augmented Gas Cleaning Devices for Particulate Removal

Increased use of coal as an energy source and strict regulation of environmental emissions have resulted in increased interest in gas stream cleanup. Particulate control is also of great importance for turbine protection in the pressurized fluidized-bed combustion/combined cycle (PFBC/CC concept for the generation of electricity. Many types of particulate removal devices are commercially available for relatively moderate temperature and near ambient pressure. Efforts to augment the performance of several of these devices electrostatically are reviewed, with special attention to potential for use at the high-temperature high-pressure conditions existing in the PFBC/CC scheme. In particular, electrostatic precipitators, electrostatically augmented cyclone separators, and fabric and granular bed filters have been considered.