Energy & Fuels, Vol.34, No.1, 637-644, 2020
Condensational Growth of Fine SiO2 Particles by Magnetized Wetting Agent Tween-20 Solution Vapor
The emission of fine particles from coal-fired power plants causing environmental and human health issues is a topic of concern. The enlargement of particles seems to be a promising pretreatment technology for fine particles removal with traditional electrostatic precipitator. The effects of magnetized Tween-20 solution (MTS) by heterogeneous condensation for particle growth were carried out based on the growth tube. The experimental results indicate that the particle growth is more favored by MTS compared with water and nonmagnetized solution. Additionally, the surface tension of magnetized solution is decreased, and the wettability of particles is improved. Furthermore, more effective particle growth is presented at lower mass concentration of MTS. Meanwhile, the initial particle concentration has great influence on the larger size grown particles on magnetized solution. Numerical calculation results demonstrate that the critical supersaturation is lower, but the nucleation rate in the nucleation stage and the growth rate of clusters in the transition stage are both elevated on the condition of magnetized solution. This work reveals that the facilitating process of particle growth by magnetized wetting agent solution is a potential physical and chemical method.