Methods for reducing low emissions from heating devices in single- family housing

Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 12, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland

^* Corresponding author: dproszak@prz.edu.pl

Abstract

By low emission, we mean the pollution of the lower troposphere from emitters not exceeding 50 m in height and most often located at a level of 10 m in height. Due to such emitters the altitude this pollution accumulates around is its place of emission. The basic source of low emissions in Poland are pollutants caused by vehicular traffic and during the process of burning low quality coal, and rubbish - in domestic furnaces. The reason is the lack of proper filtrtation in these devices. Most air pollutants are gaseous substances. The second group is dust. Contamination is different in physical and chemical terms. The most dangerous for people and the environment are: dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzopyrene), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals (eg cadmium, manganese, chromium), and hydrogen cyanide. The largest increase in suspended particulates during the heating season affects a majority of single-family housing estates, due to the lack of system heat. It is a fact that many users have antiquated coal furnaces in which low-quality coal and sometimes waste is burned, for example, colored press, rubber, plastics, and impregnated wood. Unfavorable weather conditions during the heating season intensify this phenomenon which is known as smog. This publication is aimed at presenting methods for reducing the emission of pollutants into the air due to the combustion of inadequate fuel in areas of low residential buildings. The solutions, based on the replacement of fifth-generation furnaces as well as a change of fuel, have been proposed.