US EPA

913698 

Journal Article 

Energy Savings and Emission Reduction of Traditional Pollutants, Particulate Matter, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Using Solvent-Containing Water Emulsified Heavy Fuel Oil in Boilers 

Lin, SL; Lee, WJ; Chang, SS; Lee, Cf; Lee, LF; Lin, CS; Loong, H 

2011 

Yes 

Energy and Fuels
ISSN: 0887-0624
EISSN: 1520-5029 

AMER CHEMICAL SOC 

WASHINGTON 

25 

4 

1537-1546 

English 

10.1021/ef200083g 

WOS:000289697700022 

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ef200083g
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Heavy fuel oil is one of the most commonly used petroleum fuels in boilers, although it is associated with a high level of pollutants. Emulsification is a developing technique to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce regulated pollution emissions. In the current study, the water phase of emulsified heavy oil contained 1 vol % methanol, 4 vol % isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and 95 vol % water, representing actual industrial solvent containing wastewater (SCW). The SCW fractions in emulsified fuel were optimized by thermal, centrifugal, and 14-day standing stability tests. The emulsion M1P4-10 with 10 vol % SCW showed no separation and; contained the smallest and most homogeneous water-in-oil (W/O) droplets after stability tests. Four boilers, including three with 3.6 and one with 10 ton h(-1) steam capacities;, were employed to be operated for 30 h with a regular heavy fuel oil and M1P4-10. The microexplosion and tinder effects of solvent contents improved boiler efficiency by 10-33% and reduced fuel consumption by 5-31% using M1P4-10. The emulsion also reduced SO(x) by 3.3-7.1%, particulate matter (PM) by 41-85%, CO by 89-93%, HC by 91-60%, and NO(x) by 3.3-23%. With regard to inhibiting toxic air pollutants, the emission levels of total polycyclic aromatic. hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total benzo[a]pyrene (BaP(eq)) were reduced by 37.7 and 61.8%, respectively using M1P4-10. The PM and NO(x) trade-off problem could be solved by lower temperature combustion of M1P4-10. Consequently, the solvent-containing wastewater emulsified heavy fuel oil could effectively promote boiler efficiency and reduce the pollutant emissions in a specific emulsifying ratio.