Removal of particulate matter from combustion gas streams.

摘要

Unburned particulate matter is removed from a combustion gas stream by adding a conditioning agent to modify the resistivity of the particulate matter and passing the conditioned combustion gas stream through an electrostatic precipitator whose precipitating elements are energized with an intermittent applied voltage. The addition of conditioning agent and the precipitating voltage signal are mutually optimized. A controller receives measurement signals from sensors that monitor the total flow rate of particulate matter in the gas stream before the electrostatic precipitation treatment, and the concentration of particulate matter in the gas stream after the treatment. Performance of the system may be optimized according to selected combinations of variables. <IMAGE>