Assessing the dry impinger method for condensable particulate matter from ultra-low emission coal-fired power plant measurement

The dry impinger method is commonly used for the determination of condensable particulate matter (CPM) emissions. The coil and chamber condenser is used to build different dry impinger methods for CPM sampling. The comparative analysis of coil and chamber condenser is performed in a laboratory experiment to evaluate the deviation caused by SO2. Results showed that the positive deviation caused by SO2 in the chamber condenser is lower than that in the coil condenser under the same sampling conditions, especially under high humidity flue gas. The CPM emission characteristics from Hanchuan coal-fired power plant (CFPP) determined by both dry impinger methods are also investigated as well. The CPM and its most water-soluble ions (e.g., F−, Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, Na+, Ca2+ and NH4+) measured by method #2 (chamber condenser) are higher than that of method #1 (coil condenser). In addition, the esters in the CPM also increased with the CPM concentrations. Based on above evidences, it can be inferred that the dry impinger method with chamber condenser, will be recommended as the appropriate method for measuring CPM emitted from stationary sources, especially under the high humidity flue gas conditions.