Abstract: An automatic back corona detection and protection system (200) is provided for controlling an electrostatic dust precipitator (80). The system (200) includes a subsystem for monitoring voltage and current parameters of the high voltage transformer/rectifier (70) of the electrostatic dust precipitator system (100). On a periodic basis, automatic back corona detection and protection system (200) tests dust precipitator (80) to determine what operating conditions are conducive to back corona generation, operating parameters being utilized by the energization control (210) during the test, and then operates dust precipitator (80) at voltage and current values below those for which back corona conditions were detected. In detecting back corona, system (200) utilizes two methods of detection (220, 230).

Abstract: A flue gas conditioning system features a self-contained sulfur burner control loop that operates to maintain a constant desired temperature supply of sulfur dioxide in air by varying the rate of supply of sulfur fuel to the sulfur burner, and the absence of device in the sulfur flow path to measure or monitor sulfur flow rate. In the system, a conditioning agent demand signal operates either a means to supply the sulfur burner with a flow of air, or an air heater in the air flow path upstream of the sulfur burner, or both, to provide conditions that would increase or decrease the temperature of the sulfur burner output absent the self-contained sulfur burner control loop, and as a result of the operation of the self-contained sulfur burner control loop, systems of the invention can provide a demanded flow of sulfur dioxide and air at a substantially constant concentration and a desired temperature to a catalytic converter in response to a conditioning agent demand signal.