The report gives results of a pilot-scale investigation to determine the techno-economic feasibility of applying fabric filter dust collectors to solid refuse fired boilers. The pilot facility, installed on a slipstream of a 135,000 lb/hr boiler, was sized to handle 9000 acfm at an apparent filtering velocity of 6 fpm. Filter media evaluated included a woven glass, a felted glass, and a PTFE laminate on a woven backing. The three filter media had overall efficiencies greater than 99.8%, at apparent filtering velocities of 6 fpm or less, with an inlet loading of 0.5 gr/dscf. For the brief exposures during performance testing, none of the bag materials showed any wear problems. Installed costs for a woven glass fabric filter (the least expensive material tested) capable of handling 140,000 acfm were $317,000, $422,000 and $817,000 ($2.26, $3.01, and $5.83/acfm, respectively) at corresponding air-to-cloth ratios of 8.9, 5.8, and 2.9. Installed, operating, and annualized costs for other filter media, as well as costs for electrostatic precipitation and wet scrubbing, are also presented.

Prepared by Nashville Thermal Transfer Corp. under Grant no. R804223, program element no. EHE624. Issued May 1978.