Development of a test facility to evaluate hot gas filtration characteristics of a candle filter

Hot gas particulate filtration is a basic component in advanced power generation systems such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion (PFBC). These systems require effective particulate removal to protect the downstream gas turbine and also to meet environmental emission requirements. The ceramic barrier filter is one of the options for hot gas filtration. Hot gases flow through ceramic candle filters depositing ash on the outer surface of the filter. After this cleaning process there may be some residual ash remaining on the filter surface. This residual ash layer may grow after many cycles of filtering, contributing to a possible cause of mechanical failure of the filter.; A High Temperature Test facility (HTTF) was built to investigate the ash characteristics during surface regeneration at high temperatures. The system was capable of conducting surface regeneration tests of a single candle filter at temperatures up to 1500°F. The description of the HTTF apparatus as well as some preliminary test results are presented in this thesis.