The Ultimate ESP Rebuild: Casing Conversion To a Pulse Jet Fabric Filter, A Case Study

Presented at Electric Power Conference & Expo
Chicago, IL - May 2009

Author:
Thomas W. Lugar, Vice President of Buell Division
Fisher Klosterman, A CECO Environmental Company

Jeff Endrizzi, Plant Manager

Stu Schreurs, Principal Engineer

DJ Haggerty, Plant Engineer

of
Otter Tail Power Company
Big Stone Plant
Big Stone City, South Dakota

Abstract:
An Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) may require major upgrade or replacement due to present and future emissions considerations such as the ESP is not meeting outlet emissions/opacity requirements due to fuel switching to a lower sulfur coal, addition of mercury emissions control by sorbent injection upstream of the ESP, addition of a wet or dry FGD system, and compliance with upcoming fine particulate control (PM2.5) regulations. A lower cost option to consider for compliance strategy is the conversion of the existing ESP casing to a pulse jet fabric filter. This paper discusses the decision making process, design, installation and performance of the electrostatic precipitator casing conversion to intermediate pressure, long bag pulse jet fabric filter at Otter Tail Power Company’s Big Stone Plant Unit #1, a 475MW cyclone-fired boiler burning PRB coal. The conversion was completed in late December, 2007. Also discussed is the criteria that makes an existing ESP a candidate for conversion to a fabric filter and the advantages and disadvantages of conversion.

Features CFD and Physical Flow Models by ASC.

Click here to download a copy of the paper in PDF format (1.31 MB).