Fuel Oil Combustion (Heavy Fuel Oil, Light Oil and others) releases particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere, polluting the surroundings and harming human health. The PM released during fuel oil combustion is mainly composed of carbonaceous materials, such as soot and ash, as well as sulfur compounds, which are often present in fuel oil. These particles can range in size from a few nanometers to several micrometers.
Although there is a growing trend towards cleaner and more sustainable heating sources, which are leading to a decline in the use of fuel oil boilers, these are still used particularly in areas with limited access to electricity or natural gas, such as rural or remote areas, namely islands.
Fuel oil boilers are used in industrial processes that require high-temperature heat and large amounts of steam, as fuel oil can generate high temperatures and produce a large volume of steam. They are also used in modular power plants for electricity generation.
The general arrangement of a fuel oil plant includes a final dedusting system.
Regular cyclones and multicyclones typically fail to meet the current emission standards when utilized as the final dedusting system due to the fineness of the particles.
Particles also present serious challenges for bag filters due to their sticky nature, adhering to the surface of the bags and reducing their filtering capacity over time. By accumulating over the filter surfaces, the particles reduce the pore size of the filter media and obstruct the flow of gas through the filter. This problem can be partially overcome with PTFE coating or other alternatives.
ESPs are a technically viable alternative but usually too expensive for boilers typically valued at very competitive prices.
Clients' needs include a highly efficient final dedusting system at a reasonable price, robust enough to operate for several years without significant maintenance or operating costs and avoiding production downtime.
ACS solutions include high efficiency cyclones (HR to MK cyclone families) which are a real alternative to other more maintenance demanding or costly dedusters, reaching emissions as low as 50mg/Nm3.