Relationship between the Mass Concentration and Light Attenuation of Particulate Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants (Journal Version)

摘要

Data are presented on 40 mass concentration-light attenuation tests of particulate emissions at coal-fired power plants with electrostatic precipitator controls, and on particle size measurements at two plants near the high and low extremes in the range of the mass concentration-light attenuation tests. Good correlations were observed between mass concentration and light attenuation measurements at most of the plants. Ninety-three % of the tests had correlation coefficients of 0.90 or better. Unfortunately, the relationship varied considerably from plant to plant. A theoretical analysis of the light attenuation to mass concentration ratio from the particle size measurements at the plants near the range extremes accounted for about half of the measured range. The repeatability of several mass concentration-light attenuation tests at the same plants at different times was inconsistent; however, a more accurate monitoring of the mass concentration is obtained if an empirically established mass concentration-light attenuation relationship is used to calibrate the transmissometer for the plant.