Clear The Air News Blog Rotating Header Image

December, 2006:

ENHANCED FINE PARTICLE COLLECTION USING THE INDIGO AGGLOMERATOR

ABSTRACT
Fine particles are a major health issue as they remain suspended in the atmosphere for
extended periods, are able to penetrate deep into the human lung and contain significant
concentrations of heavy metals, such as Arsenic. They are also a significant component of the
smog that limits the visibility in many cities and even in some national parks plus scientists
believe they have an effect on global weather patterns. The Indigo Agglomerator enhances
fine particle collection by attaching the fine particles to the larger particles. These large
agglomerated particles are easily collected in existing control devices, such as electrostatic
precipitator, fabric filters, scrubbers and cyclones. This paper concentrated on PM2.5
particles, that is particles less than 2.5um in diameter, including data that was collected on
particles down to 50nm in diameter. It was found that the reduction in fine particle emission
from an electrostatic precipitator provided by installing an Indigo Agglomerator increases
with reducing particle size from a factor of 5 at 2um to a factor of 10 at 100nm. Reductions of
this magnitude will have a significant effect on the impact of fine particles on both visibility
and health. It will also result in a reduction in heavy metal emissions.

ABSTRACTFine particles are a major health issue as they remain suspended in the atmosphere forextended periods, are able to penetrate deep into the human lung and contain significantconcentrations of heavy metals, such as Arsenic. They are also a significant component of thesmog that limits the visibility in many cities and even in some national parks plus scientistsbelieve they have an effect on global weather patterns. The Indigo Agglomerator enhancesfine particle collection by attaching the fine particles to the larger particles. These largeagglomerated particles are easily collected in existing control devices, such as electrostaticprecipitator, fabric filters, scrubbers and cyclones. This paper concentrated on PM2.5particles, that is particles less than 2.5um in diameter, including data that was collected onparticles down to 50nm in diameter. It was found that the reduction in fine particle emissionfrom an electrostatic precipitator provided by installing an Indigo Agglomerator increaseswith reducing particle size from a factor of 5 at 2um to a factor of 10 at 100nm. Reductions ofthis magnitude will have a significant effect on the impact of fine particles on both visibilityand health. It will also result in a reduction in heavy metal emissions.

download PDF : Paper 6A2