You are here:
EVALUATION AND MITIGATION OF VISIBLE ACIDIC AEROSOL PLUMES FROM COAL FIRED POWER BOILERS
Citation:
SOUTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE. EVALUATION AND MITIGATION OF VISIBLE ACIDIC AEROSOL PLUMES FROM COAL FIRED POWER BOILERS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-06/156, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
The formation of sulfur trioxide during the combustion of coal can increase significantly following the installation and operation of selective catalytic reduction systems for reduction of nitrogen oxides. This can in turn lead to adverse environmental impacts, including visible near-stack plumes and increased fine PM emissions, primarily in the form of sulfuric acid aerosols. The potential extent of the problem in the electric utility sector is estimated based on the population of coal-fired utility boilers, the sulfur content of coal burned by each unit, and the likelihood that units will install selective catalytic reduction systems and flue gas desulfurization systems. This report describes the mechanisms of sulfur trioxide and acid aerosol formation and removal across boiler convection sections, air preheaters, and wet flue gas desulfurization systems, and presents an exploratory study of the absorption of sulfur trioxide onto coal fly ash. A model of sulfur trioxide formation and emissions based on these mechanisms is shown to accurately predict the stack concentration of sulfur trioxide for a 1300 MW pulverized coal-fired boiler.
URLs/Downloads:
EVALUATION AND MITIGATION OF VISIBLE ACIDIC AEROSOL PLUMES FROM COAL-FIRED POWER BOILERS, FINAL REPORTEvaluation and Mitigation of Visible Acidic Aerosol Plumes from Coal Fired Power Boilers - Final Report (PDF, NA pp, 3257 KB, about PDF)