Operating Experience with Fabric Filters on High Sulfur Fuel

摘要

While fabric filters have been used in low sulfur coal applications for several decades in the United States, operation with fabric filters on high sulfur coal applications is limited to only several years of experience. Potential regulations for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have utilities considering the future retrofit of fabric filters on existing high sulfur coal units. This paper presents a review of the operating experience gained at facilities where fabric filters have been operating on high sulfur coal. Areas that will be discussed include potential degradation of the fabric filter by startup/shutdown operations and procedures that may be implemented to avoid degradation; the performance of various types of bag materials and causes of bag failures; the extent of corrosion seen; and measures taken to minimize corrosion. Potential advantages of using fabric filters alone or in conjunction with other technologies for the control of HAPs will also be reviewed.