Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: The Development and Evaluation of an Enhanced Electrostatic Precipitator for Poultry Dust Removal
EPA Contract Number: EPD06026Title: The Development and Evaluation of an Enhanced Electrostatic Precipitator for Poultry Dust Removal
Investigators: Tisch, W J
Small Business: Tisch Environmental, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2006 through August 31, 2006
Project Amount: $66,884
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Biology/Life Sciences , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Animal Waste and Waste to Energy
Description:
Particulate emissions are a primary air quality concern for poultry farms and other animal feeding operations (AFOs), and are especially significant in poultry AFOs. Such emissions can cause health damage to AFO workers, become a nuisance to nearby neighborhoods, and result in violations of the Clean Air Act. This Phase I project focused on the prototype design and evaluation of an innovative particulate control technology—the electrostatic precipitator (ESP)—to effectively control poultry AFO dust emissions. The ESP is fitted in a box (24 ft by 24 ft) for portability and has 10 charging electrodes and 44 stainless steel collection plates (electrode). The charging voltage ranged from -60 kV to 60 kV. The ESP was custom designed to accommodate the high flow rate and low residence time of the AFO airflow. An appropriate-sized fan and motor, which were representative of poultry AFOs, were purchased. The dust collection by cascade impactor was selected from among the three available testing methods. The size-distributed mass was measured with the ESP turned on and off to determine the grade efficiency at each size range. The dust removal efficiency was measured with positive and negative corona; the voltage ranged from ±60 kV to ±10 kV, with 10 kV increments. Each condition was repeated two to three times to ensure accuracy.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Maximum efficiency of the ESP occurs at -30 kV. Up to 86% particulate matter (PM) removal was achieved, which is much greater than the impaction curtains used in some poultry farms (30%). The efficiency is higher for negative corona than positive corona at the same voltage. The reason may be because at higher voltages, the corona wind can create more turbulence, which results in the re-entrainment of the collected particles back to the gas stream. Power consumption is very low, from 1.5 W to 7.5 W, an indication that the ESP will be extremely cost effective to operate.
Conclusions:
The ESP is capable of removing 87% of dust at 30 kV negative corona. This is much higher than the impaction curtains currently tested in some poultry farms, which targets approximately 30% efficiency. Power consumption for the ESP is very low, approximately 1.5 W at 30 kV, which means extremely low operati ng costs. The pressure drop across the ESP is about 0.3–0.4 inches of water, which is very low when compared with other proposed devices, and will not cause a significant drop in the ventilation rate of the fans. Design improvements have been proposed for the ESP. The ESP technology is feasible, low cost, and promising in the actual applications. The ESP for the poultry dust control needs to be custom designed because of the unique flow and dust characteristics; it is not something that can be obtained directly off of the shelf. The project team is confident and ready to move forward to Phase II of this research project.
Supplemental Keywords:
SBIR, small business, poultry dust removal, particulate matter, PM, particulate emissions, animal feeding operations, AFOs, electrostatic precipitation, dust removal, poultry dust, poultry farms, air pollution, farm pollution, EPA,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, air pollutants, agricultural byproducts, air pollution control, animal waste, emission controls, pollution control, electrochemical techniques, environmental exposure, electrostatic precipitator for poultry dust removal, agriculture, animal feeding operations dust emissions, human healthThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.