Highly efficient particulate matter removal by a fluidized-bed-type device operated in continuous regeneration mode

Particulate matter (PM) is mainly composed of combustible substances emitted from various combustors, with combustion technology improvement resulting in decreased PM diameter. Since the effective collection of small PM particles by existing removal devices is challenging, we fabricated a PM removal device of the continuous regeneration type, utilizing low-temperature fluidized bed combustion and relying on adhesion forces for the effective collection of small PM particles. For the above device, PM collection and combustion efficiencies increased with decreasing PM diameter due to the increased role of adhesion forces observed on a small scale and the adherence of dispersed PM to the surface of bed-forming particles (enhancing contact with oxygen), respectively. Furthermore, the constructed device was operated in a continuous regeneration mode, featuring simultaneous PM collection and combustion. Although existing continuous regeneration devices require temperatures of 600–650 °C for PM combustion, the device reported herein could be operated at a bed temperature of 400 °C.