Efficient Cleaning and Heat Recovery of Flue Gas from a Small-Scale Boiler

Abstract

Small-scale biomass boilers contribute to the emission of particulate matter (PM) to the environment. In this study, the performance of a wet-scrubber purification system for flue gas was experimentally investigated. The experimental setup consisted of a boiler, a wet scrubber, a generator, and heat exchangers. The results showed an average PM collection efficiency of ca. 42 % for a PM size range of 0.08–10 µm over a testing period of five months. Furthermore, the results showed an improvement in the heat recovery of about 18 %. Focusing only on the heat losses through exhaust flue gases, the losses were shown to have decreased by 72 %. During the total testing period of 8.5 months, no decrease could be noticed in the absorption solution ability.