CCC/218 ISBN 978-92-9029-538-9

March 2013

copyright © IEA Clean Coal Centre

Abstract

Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) are the dominant type of particulate control in pulverised coal

combustion (PCC) plant; fabric filters (FF) play a smaller role. Environmental pressures and

subsequent tighter regulations have lowered emission limit values (ELV) for particulate matter from

PCC plant, and they are now extending to specific toxic metals, such as mercury. Lower ELV are

generally met by increasing the efficiency of the existing particulate control via numerous

enhancements. However, the existing fleet is ageing, various restrictions on site limit what work can

be done and PCC plant is progressively operating under non-design conditions. Despite this, further

developments in technology have led to significant improvements in collection efficiency and

regulations have been met. New hybrid ESP/FF systems aim to become more viable than the

individual technology by utilising the advantages of both technologies. The purpose of this report is to

review the technical and economic considerations of enhancements in particulate control for PCC

plant over the last decade.