EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF CONDENSATIONAL GROWTH ACTIVATION FOR CARBONACEOUS PARTICLES REMOVAL FROM FLUE GASES

A novel technique for both industrial and domestic applications for submicronic particles removal from flue gasesrelies on increasing the diameter of fine and ultra- fine particles by condensing water vapor onto the particles themselves. This study experimentally evaluated the condensational growth activation via the heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor on particles for different temperature and vapor concentration as well as the characteristic time of the condensation process. It has been shown that it is possible to capture the dispersed particles in the water droplets with high efficiency in dependence on operative conditions. Higher inlet vapor concentration as well as lower working temperature increase the final size of the particles thus improving their removal from the gas stream. Furthermore the characteristic induction and growth times are experimentallyevaluated. They are compatible with practical applications and their identification and the estimation can be very useful in the design and dimensioning of a real abatement unit.