Evaluation of the Efficiency of Filtration Processes Using Precoat Materials

The highly efficient filtration of ultrafine dust emitted by biomass combustion processes with a baghouse filter has been successfully tested in the last years. To protect the filter material from the very small and sticky fine dust particles and to guarantee very high total collection efficiencies (> 99 %) in a long-term stable process, the use of a precoat is necessary. Tests done in a laboratory and a real-application plant show that the reuse of precoat materials can lead to significant savings. Considering the influences of different combustion processes, the associated precoat efficiencies could be calculated. With these characteristic ratios, it is possible to evaluate different process settings. Hence, the amount and the cost of the needed precoat could be reduced significantly.