Air pollution control (APC) systems in waste-to-energy (WTE) plants are facing many of the same challenges that independent power facilities (IPP) have dealt with for years. The most prevalent problems being corrosion and emissions. An IPP plant in the southeastern U.S. illustrates the cause and effect that corrosion played in the plant’s operation, as well as the engineered solution designed to address the issue. The result has performed beyond expectations and lends itself well to the same issues in the WTE plants. The paper also provides information regarding the conversion of the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) to a fabric filter baghouse. By utilizing the existing housing of an ESP, a higher particulate collection efficiency can be achieved at a fraction of the capital cost. Finally, the paper discusses filter changeout to filter bags laminated with highly efficient expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. This media change addresses the demanding environmental regulations the industry faces, as well as providing benefits to the WTE APC system such as superior cleandown, increased airflows, and extended filter life. The ultimate results of these three technologies can help decrease maintenance time and cost and increase WTE facility production.

Like many coal-fired power plants today, the waste-to-energy (WTE) industry is faced with a number of challenges including the need to maximize plant output, lower outlet emissions and increase plant efficiencies. Within WTE, there’s also been a move from reverse-air baghouses to pulse-jet collectors due to lower initial capital costs and the ability to operate pulse-jet collectors at higher air-to-cloth ratios (3–4:1), allowing for a smaller housing footprint. However, the majority of today’s pulse-jet collectors utilize an off-line cleaning mode where modules are taken out of service and pulsed to lower the differential pressure. There are inherent advantages in switching from an off-line cleaning mode to an on-line cleaning mode. This paper discusses the idea of using the fabric filter as a damper and stabilizing draft through the baghouse and boiler. It also outlines the use of pleated filter element (PFE) technology to address increased production concerns, and the need for lower outlet emissions.