Abstract: A flue gas conditioning system (FGC) for conditioning the flue gas flowing in a flue from a boiler to an electrostatic precipitator by injecting sulfur trioxide into the flue gas upstream of the electrostatic precipitator. The FGC has a source (52) of granulated sulfur which is transported by a conveyor (54) to a sulfur furnace (60) where it is combusted in sulfur dioxide. The sulfur dioxide flows from the sulfur furnace (60) into a catalytic converter 62 which generates sulfur trioxide therefrom. The sulfur trioxide flows from the catalytic converter 62 into probes 64 which are mounted in the flue duct. Alternatively, the FGC has a source (70) of emulsoid sulfur which is pumped by a sulfur pump (72) to the inlet of an atomizing spray nozzle (200) which atomizes the emulsoid sulfur and sprays it into sulfur furnace (50).

Abstract: A flue gas conditioning system uses the waste heat of the flue gas to heat a sulfuric acid solution to add sufficient heat energy to the solution to vaporize the solution before being injected into the flue gas to condition the flue gas so that particulate removal by a precipitator is enhanced.

Abstract: A flue gas conditioning system uses the waste heat of the flue gas to heat a conditioning agent such as water to add sufficient heat energy to the water to generate steam that can be used to atomize the water into a very fine mist with droplets less than 50 microns injected into the flue gas. The fine mist evaporates quickly conditioning the flue gas to enhance particulate removal by a precipitator or filter. Also, humidification of the flue gas causes trace heavy metals--arsenic, mercury, selium, copper, zinc, etc.--to condense on fly ash particles. Such metals are targeted for removal by the EPA under the blanket description "air toxics.