Condensation-growth particle scrubber

A method of separating submicron particles from an aerosol comprising the steps of;

• cooling the aerosol to condition it to a saturated state at a temperature below the temperature of steam;
• conditioning high pressure steam to be at a low pressure close to the ambient flue gas pressure prior to introducing the steam into the aerosol;
• introducing conditional low pressure steam into the aerosol after cooling the aerosol to supersaturate the aerosol with steam at a higher temperature than the aerosol and cause condensation to form on the particles;
• and
• removing the grown particles from the aerosol subsequent to supersaturating the gas by introducing steam.

Apparatus for condensation growth of small particles from a high temperature aerosol containing a gas and particles under one micron size in the gas comprising:

• means for separating substantial size particles above one micron in diameter from the aerosol;
• a coagulation passageway for permitting fine particle agglomeration;
• means for reducing the temperature of the aerosol subsequent to agglomeration and causing saturation of the aerosol connected to the coagulation passageway;
• means for introducing steam at a higher temperature than the aerosol into the reduced temperature aerosol for supersaturation of the aerosol to a level to cause condensation growth on particles in the aerosol, the means for introducing steam including a steam conditioner connected to a high pressure steam source, the steam conditioner including a pressure reduction stage to reduce steam pressure prior to introducing the steam into the reduced temperature aerosol;
• and
• means for removing the particles grown in size by condensation from the aerosol.