FLUORINE ENRICHMENT PHENOMENA IN COAL COMBUSTION CYCLE

The use of nuclear techniques based on proton-induced gamma-ray emission for the detection of fluorine in coal and coal fly ash samples is presented. The method is applied to investigate fluorine enrichment phenomena in the coal combustion cycle taking into account the combustion itself and the abatement process. In particular, we analyzed coal samples as well as integral and size fractionated fly ash samples collected at the inlet and outlet units of a 3 MWe pilot electrostatic precipitator (ESP). This was installed in a slip stream derived from the flue gas duct of a power plant burning South African coal. Fluorine enrichment factors in the pathway from coal to fly ash and their dependence on the different ESP operating conditions have been studied.