A health hazard assessment model of fine particles generated from coal-fired boilers and its case analysis

Abstract A novel health hazard assessment model of fine particles generated from five groups of coal-fired boilers is built based on AHP. In our assessment model, some important factors are taken into account, including the number from uncontrolled emission, and mass from uncontrolled emission, the particle size distribution of Rosin-Rammler function of fine particles, and the total content of toxic chemical compositions (including Cr, V, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, As, Se, Hg, OC and EC). By calculation, PM2.5 from the industrial grate-fired boilers are much more harmful to human health than those from the other types of coal-fired boilers, which is not recommended to choose grate-fired burners as a burner of a new boiler or a modification boiler. PM2.5 from industrial fluidized-bed boilers are more harmful to human health than that of utility CFB boilers; PM2.5 from the large-capacity utility pulverized coal boilers (⩾450MW) are more harmful to human health than those from the small-capacity utility pulverized coal boilers (<450MW). It is necessary to install a high performance dust removal device.