Controlled nanoparticle growth by vapour condensation

Abstract

Domestic boilers are generally characterized by higher emissions of airborne dust. A commonly used secondary method of reducing emissions in the energy sector is a cyclone. However, its wider expansion in households is limited by, among other things, the low efficiency of particle capture below 1 micrometre in diameter, and it is these sizes that dominate in the flue gas of domestic heating devices. By sharply lowering the temperature of the flue gas below the dew point of the vapour, it condenses on all available surfaces. This effect could increase the diameter of the particles, which could be separated with higher efficiency. A change in the numerical distribution of the fine particles with a temperature and thus the supersaturation of the flue gas was sought. The flue gas passed through an impinger filled with water and isopropyl alcohol at three different temperature regimes. The impinger also served to capture the condensate, which was then subjected to morphology analysis using an electron microscope and determination of particle distribution in the condensate.