The Performance of Fabric Filters in a Pilot Baghouse During Coal Water Fuel Combustion Trials

Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada, together with the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission (N.B. Power) and Cape Breton Development Corporation have undertaken a program in eastern Canada to demonstrate coal-water fuel (C.W.F.) technology for electric utility boilers. The successful results of the C.W.F. demonstration in N.B. Power’s Chatham Generating Station led to a continuation of the program in a 20-MWe compact oil-designed utility boiler in Charlottetown, P.E.I. during the latter part of 1986 and early 1987. Based upon the results of the Charlottetown demonstration an evaluation of C.W.F. for a larger utility boiler (in the 90–150-MWe range) is planned. An essential feature of the Charlottetown demonstration, and any subsequent use of C.W.F., is the containment of the particulate emissions which arise from use of coal in the boiler. This paper describes tests which were undertaken at Chatham, using a pilot-scale baghouse, in order to be able to specify equipment, materials and operating procedures for the Charlottetown C.W.F. demonstration.