Abating Particulate Emissions from Small Combustion Installations: Field Testing of the Micro-Scale Electrostatic Precipitators
Source abstract
Abstract
Small combustion installations (SCIs) burning solid fuels remain a major source of particulate matter (PM) emissions responsible for winter smog episodes in many European regions. This study aimed to develop and validate low-cost, micro-scale electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) suitable for retrofitting residential SCIs, and to quantify their PM removal performance under both controlled laboratory conditions and real-life field operation. Two ESP variants were designed and prototyped: (i) a tubular in-line ESP for installation at the boiler flue outlet and (ii) a disk (chimney-bypass) ESP mounted at the chimney outlet, with low energy demand. PM concentrations upstream and downstream of the ESPs were measured using standardized gravimetric, isokinetic sampling with recalculation to reference conditions, and the overall dedusting efficiency was determined from inlet/outlet concentrations. Laboratory testing showed that the micro-scale ESPs can achieve high dedusting efficiencies of approximately 90% under stabilized nominal-load operation. Field trials of the disk ESP in households and small residential buildings confirmed robust performance, with dedusting efficiencies of 70–82% under unsupervised user operation. In most cases, outlet PM concentrations were reduced below applicable Ecodesign thresholds. The results confirm that micro-scale ESPs are a technically feasible and effective “end-of-pipe” option for reducing short-stack PM emissions from solid-fuel heating, offering immediate air quality benefits where appliance replacement or fuel switching is limited by cost or practical constraints. This paper discusses the latest advancements in reducing PM emissions from SCIs. It introduces a prototype design for two types of micro-scale electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) that can be integrated into SCIs that burn solid fuels. The proposed technical solution utilizes an electrostatic method to effectively remove PM from flue gases. An established industrial technology has been adapted to meet the specific technical, economic, and safety needs of residential applications. The paper compares two design variants with a novel self-cleaning mechanism through laboratory testing and presents results from field trials. Findings confirm ESPs can substantially reduce PM emissions from SCIs.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Aerosol Filtration and Electrostatic Precipitation · Cyclone Separators and Fluid Dynamics · Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Division of Bioenergy Conversion Technology, Department of Renewable Energy and Environmental Research, Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-261 Krakow, Poland
Funding
Silesian University of Technology · Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences · Ministry of Education and Science for the University of Agriculture in Krakow
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