Performance Evaluation of a Novel Pilot-Scale Wet Electrostatic Precipitator in a Bio-Drying-Assisted Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) Generation Plant: Particulate Matter (PM) Collection Efficiency

The production of solid recovered fuel (SRF) from sewage sludge has been credited with facilitating Korea’s waste management shift toward a resource circular economy. In this study, a novel pilot-scale wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) was developed and installed in a bio-drying-assisted solid recovered fuel (SRF) generation plant for the first time. To investigate the performance of the novel WESP, various sizes of particulate matter, i.e., total particle matter (PM), particle matter smaller than 10 μm (PM₁₀), and particle matter smaller than 0.1 μm (PM_0.1), collection efficiencies were evaluated and demonstrated promising performances. Under optimal operating conditions (flow rate of 5 m³/min and an applied voltage of 30 kV), 99.76% PM and 91% PM₁₀ collection efficiencies were achieved, and the PM concentration was 0.16 mg/m³, which met the exhaust emission standard. However, a dramatic increase in PM_0.1 was observed and could be explained by the break-up theory, binary homogenous nucleation, and ion-induced nucleation. The experimental findings could serve as useful information to understand the WESP system.