The objective of the present work was to demonstrate the possibilities to reduce the emission of fine particle forming alkali during co-combustion of wood with peat in a full scale (150 kW) grate fired boiler. For this purpose the particle emissions from a 150 kW district heating grate fired boiler situated in northern part of Kramfors, Sweden, were studied. During the experiment the district heating boiler was fired with sawdust fuel with a 0, 10 and 20 wt-% (zero, low, high) peat content respectively. Mass concentrations and particle size distribution were measured by using a DLPI (13-step low-pressure cascade impactor) with a precyclone. The particle matter was analyzed for morphology and elemental composition using SEM/EDS (Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy). In addition, chemical equilibrium model calculations were used to interpret the experimental findings. The present study clearly shows that reduction of fine particles (&lt; 1 um) is possible when co-combusting wood pellets with peat pellets in grate fired boilers. When 10 wt % peat was added to the wood/peat fuel mixture the fraction of fine particles was significantly decreased (about half of that emitted during pure softwood pellet combustion). The fine particles were for all fuel types/mixtures dominated by potassium, chlorine, sulfur, sodium and zinc. The result from this work therefore shows that a significant reduction of fine particle alkali is possible when co-combusting wood pellets with peat. The results from the thermo-chemical calculations suggest that a significant share of the potassium is retained in the bottom ash as a K rich silicate slag and as KAlSi2O6(s) (Leucite) when co-combusting sawdust with peat. / <p>Validerat; 20110920 (anonymous)</p>

Recent observations have shown that coronal shocks driven by coronal mass ejections can develop and accelerate particles within several solar radii in large solar energetic particle (SEP) events. Motivated by this, we present an SEP acceleration study that including the process in which a fast shock propagates through a streamer-like magnetic field with both closed and open field lines in the low corona region. The acceleration of protons is modeled by numerically solving the Parker transport equation with spatial diffusion both along and across the magnetic field. We show that particles can be sufficiently accelerated to up to several hundred MeV within 2-3 solar radii. When the shock propagates through a streamer-like magnetic field, particles are more efficiently accelerated compared to the case with a simple radial magnetic field, mainly due to perpendicular shock geometry and the natural trapping effect of closed magnetic fields. Our results suggest that the coronal magnetic field configuration is an important factor for producing large SEP events. We further show that the coronal magnetic field configuration strongly influences the distribution of energetic particles, leading to different locations of source regions along the shock front where most high-energy particles are concentrated. This work may have strong implications for SEP observations. The upcoming Parker Solar Probe will provide in situ observations for the distribution of energetic particles in the coronal shock region, and test the results of the study.

The understanding of human exposure to indoor particles of all sizes is important to enable exposure control and reduction, but especially for smaller particles since the smaller particles have a higher probability of penetration into the deeper parts of the respiratory tract and also contain higher levels of trace elements and toxins. Due to the limited understanding of the relationship between particle size and the health effects they cause, as well as instrument limitations, the available information on submicrometer (d < 1.0 µm) particles indoors, both in terms of mass and number concentrations, is still relatively limited. This PhD project was conducted as part of the South-East Queensland Air Quality program and Queensland Housing Study aimed at providing a better understanding of ambient particle concentrations within the indoor environment with a focus on exposure assessment and control. This PhD project was designed to investigate comprehensively the sources and sinks of indoor aerosol particles and the relationship between indoor and outdoor aerosol particles, particle and gaseous pollutant, as well as the association between indoor air pollutants and house characteristics by using, analysing and interpreting existing experimental data which were collected before this project commenced, as well as data from additional experiments which were designed and conducted for the purpose of this project. The focus of this research was on submicrometer particles with a diameter between 0.007 - 0.808 µm. The main outcome of this project may be summarised as following: * A comprehensive review of particle concentration levels and size distributions characteristics in the residential and non-industrial workplace environments was conducted. This review included only those studies in which more general trends were investigated, or could be concluded based on information provided in the papers. This review included four parts: 1) outdoor particles and their effect on indoor environments; 2) the relationship between indoor and outdoor concentration levels in the absence of indoor sources for naturally ventilated buildings; 3) indoor sources of particles: contribution to indoor concentration levels and the effect on I/O ratios for naturally ventilated buildings; and 4) indoor/outdoor relationship in mechanically ventilated buildings. * The relationship between indoor and outdoor airborne particles was investigated for sixteen residential houses in Brisbane, Australia, in the absence of operating indoor sources. Comparison of the ratios of indoor to outdoor particle concentrations revealed that while temporary values of the ratio vary in a broad range from 0.2 to 2.5 for both lower and higher ventilation conditions, average values of the ratios were very close to one regardless of ventilation conditions and of particle size range. The ratios were in the range from 0.78 to 1.07 for submicrometer particles, from 0.95 to 1.0 for supermicrometer particles and from 1.01 to 1.08 for PM2.5 fraction. Comparison of the time series of indoor to outdoor particle concentrations showed a clear positive relationship existing for many houses under normal ventilation conditions (estimated to be about and above 2 h-1), but not under minimum ventilation conditions (estimated to be about and below 1 h-1). These results suggest that for normal ventilation conditions and in the absence of operating indoor sources, outdoor particle concentrations could be used to predict instantaneous indoor particle concentrations but not for minium ventilation, unless air exchange rate is known, thus allowing for estimation of the "delay constant". * Diurnal variation of indoor submicrometer particle number and particle mass (approximation of PM2.5) concentrations was investigated in fifteen of the houses. The results show that there were clear diurnal variations in both particle number and approximation of PM2.5 concentrations, for all the investigated houses. The pattern of diurnal variations varied from house to house, however, there was always a close relationship between the concentration and human indoor activities. The average number and mass concentrations during indoor activities were (18.2±3.9)×10³ particles cm-³ and (15.5±7.9) µg m-³ respectively, and under non-activity conditions, (12.4±2.7)x10³ particles cm-³ (11.1±2.6) µg m-³, respectively. In general, there was a poor correlation between mass and number concentrations and the correlation coefficients were highly variable from day to day and from house to house. This implies that conclusions cannot be drawn about either one of the number or mass concentration characteristics of indoor particles, based on measurement of the other. The study also showed that it is unlikely that particle concentrations indoors could be represented by measurements conducted at a fixed monitoring station due to the large impact of indoor and local sources. * Emission characteristics of indoor particle sources in fourteen residential houses were quantified. In addition, characterizations of particles resulting from cooking conducted in an identical way in all the houses were measured. All the events of elevated particle concentrations were linked to indoor activities using house occupants diary entries, and catalogued into 21 different types of indoor activities. This enabled quantification of the effect of indoor sources on indoor particle concentrations as well as quantification of emission rates from the sources. For example, the study found that frying, grilling, stove use, toasting, cooking pizza, smoking, candle vaporizing eucalyptus oil and fan heater use, could elevate the indoor submicrometer particle number concentration levels by more than 5 times, while PM2.5 concentrations could be up to 3, 30 and 90 times higher than the background levels during smoking, frying and grilling, respectively. * Indoor particle deposition rates of size classified particles in the size range from 0.015 to 6 µm were quantified. Particle size distribution resulting from cooking, repeated under two different ventilation conditions in 14 houses, as well as changes to particle size distribution as a function of time, were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), and a DustTrak. Deposition rates were determined by regression fitting of the measured size-resolved particle number and PM2.5 concentration decay curves, and accounting for air exchange rate. The measured deposition rates were shown to be particle size dependent and they varied from house to house. The lowest deposition rates were found for particles in the size range from 0.2 to 0.3 µm for both minimum (air exchange rate: 0.61±0.45 h-1) and normal (air exchange rate: 3.00±1.23 h-1) ventilation conditions. The results of statistical analysis indicated that ventilation condition (measured in terms of air exchange rate) was an important factor affecting deposition rates for particles in the size range from 0.08 to 1.0 µm, but not for particles smaller than 0.08 µm or larger than 1.0 µm. Particle coagulation was assessed to be negligible compared to the two other processes of removal: ventilation and deposition. This study of particle deposition rates, the largest conducted so far in terms of the number of residential houses investigated, demonstrated trends in deposition rates comparable with studies previously reported, usually for significantly smaller samples of houses (often only one). However, the results compare better with studies which, similarly to this study, investigated cooking as a source of particles (particle sources investigated in other studies included general activity, cleaning, artificial particles, etc). * Residential indoor and outdoor 48 h average levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 48h indoor submicrometer particle number concentration and the approximation of PM2.5 concentrations were measured simultaneously for fourteen houses. Statistical analyses of the correlation between indoor and outdoor pollutants (NO2 and particles) and the association between house characteristics and indoor pollutants were conducted. The average indoor and outdoor NO2 levels were 13.8 ± 6.3 ppb and 16.7 ± 4.2 ppb, respectively. The indoor/outdoor NO2 concentration ratio ranged from 0.4 to 2.3, with a median value of 0.82. Despite statistically significant correlations between outdoor and fixed site NO2 monitoring station concentrations (p = 0.014, p = 0.008), there was no significant correlation between either indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations (p = 0.428), or between indoor and fixed site NO2 monitoring station concentrations (p = 0.252, p = 0.465,). However, there was a significant correlation between indoor NO2 concentration and indoor submicrometer aerosol particle number concentrations (p = 0.001), as well as between indoor PM2.5 and outdoor NO2 (p = 0.004). These results imply that the outdoor or fixed site monitoring concentration alone is a poor predictor of indoor NO2 concentration. * Analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant association between indoor PM2.5 and any of the house characteristics investigated (p > 0.05). However, associations between indoor submicrometer particle number concentration and some house characteristics (stove type, water heater type, number of cars and condition of paintwork) were significant at the 5% level. Associations between indoor NO2 and some house characteristics (house age, stove type, heating system, water heater type and floor type) were also significant (p < 0.05). The results of these analyses thus strongly suggest that the gas stove, gas heating system and gas water heater system are main indoor sources of indoor submicrometer particle and NO2 concentrations in the studied residential houses. The significant contributions of this PhD project to the knowledge of indoor particle included: 1) improving an understanding of indoor particles behaviour in residential houses, especially for submicrometer particle; 2) improving an understanding of indoor particle source and indoor particle sink characteristics, as well as their effects on indoor particle concentration levels in residential houses; 3) improving an understanding of the relationship between indoor and outdoor particles, the relationship between particle mass and particle number, correlation between indoor NO2 and indoor particles, as well as association between indoor particle, NO2 and house characteristics.

The coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are phenomena that evidence the complex solar activity. During the CME evolution in the solar wind (SW) the shock and sheath (Sh) are established. With these, the transfer of energy and shock thermalization have origin through several processes like instabilities and particle acceleration. Here, we present two studies related to CMEs. In the first study, we analyze the existence of the KelvinHelmholtz instability (KHI) at the interfaces CMESh and ShSW. For this purpose, we assumed two CMEs that propagate independently in the slow and fast SW. We model velocities, densities and magnetic field strengths of sheaths, and SW in the CMEs flanks, in order to solve the Chandrasekhar condition for the magnetic KHI existence. Our results reveal that KHI formation is more probably in the CME that propagate in the slow SW than in CME propagating in the fast SW. It is due to large shear flow between the CME and the slow SW. Besides we find that the interface ShSW is more susceptible to the instability. In the second study, we examine the distributions of particle acceleration and turbulence regions around CME-driven shocks with wave-like features. We consider these corrugated shock as the result of disturbances from the bimodal SW, CME deflection, irregular CME expansion, and the ubiquitous fluctuations in the solar corona. We model smooth CME-driven shocks using polar Gaussian profiles. With the addition of wave-like functions, we obtain the corrugated shocks. For both shock types are calculated the shock normal angles between the shock normal and the radial upstream coronal magnetic field in order to classify the quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular regions linked to the particle acceleration and turbulence regions, respectively. Our calculations show the predisposition of the shock to the particle acceleration and indicate that the irregular CME expansion is the relevant factor in the particle acceleration process. We consider that these wave-like features in shocks may be essential in the study of current problems as injection particle, instabilities, downstream-jets, and shock thermalization. / As ejeções de massa coronal (do inglês coronal mass ejections, CMEs) são consideradas traçadores da atividade solar. Durante a evolução das CMEs no vento solar (do inglês solar wind, SW), o choque e o envoltório (do inglês sheath, Sh) são estabelecidos. Nesta fase, a transferência da energia e a termalização do choque podem ter origem através de vários processos, entre eles instabilidades e aceleração de partculas. Aqui nós apresentamos dois estudos relacionados às CMEs. No primeiro estudo, analisamos a existência da instabilidade KelvinHelmholtz (KHI) nas interfaces CMESh e ShSW. Para isto, supomos duas CMEs que se propagam independentemente no SW lento e rápido. Modelamos as velocidades, densidades e a intensidade do campo magnético dos envoltórios e SW nos flancos das CMEs, a fim de resolver a condição de Chandrasekhar para a existência da KHI magnética. Nossos resultados revelam que a formação da KHI pode ser mais provável na CME que se propaga no SW lento do que na CME que se propaga no SW rápido. Isto é devido a um maior cisalhamento entre a CME e o SW lento. Além disso, encontramos que a interface ShSW é ser mais suscetvel à instabilidade. No segundo estudo, examinamos as distribuições das regiões de aceleração de partculas e turbulência em choques ondulados com caractersticas semelhantes a ondas. Assumimos choques ondulados como resultado de perturbações do SW bimodal, deflexão da CME, expansão irregular da CME, e flutuações onipresentes na coroa solar. Construmos choques sem ondulações usando perfis Gaussianos. Com adição de funções semelhantes a ondas, obtemos os choques ondulados. Para ambos tipos de choques, calculamos os ângulos entre o vector normal ao choque e o campo magnético coronal radial, assim classificamos as regiões como quase-paralelas e quase-perpendiculares que são ligadas às regiões de aceleração de partculas e turbulência, respectivamente. Nossos cálculos mostram a predisposição do choque para o fenômeno de acceleração de partculas, e indicam que a expansão irregular da CME é o fator de maior relevância neste processo. Consideramos que assumir ondulações nos choques pode ser essencial nos estudos de problemas atuais como injeção de partculas, instabilidades, jatos e termalização dos choques.

The coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are phenomena that evidence the complex solar activity. During the CME evolution in the solar wind (SW) the shock and sheath (Sh) are established. With these, the transfer of energy and shock thermalization have origin through several processes like instabilities and particle acceleration. Here, we present two studies related to CMEs. In the first study, we analyze the existence of the KelvinHelmholtz instability (KHI) at the interfaces CMESh and ShSW. For this purpose, we assumed two CMEs that propagate independently in the slow and fast SW. We model velocities, densities and magnetic field strengths of sheaths, and SW in the CMEs flanks, in order to solve the Chandrasekhar condition for the magnetic KHI existence. Our results reveal that KHI formation is more probably in the CME that propagate in the slow SW than in CME propagating in the fast SW. It is due to large shear flow between the CME and the slow SW. Besides we find that the interface ShSW is more susceptible to the instability. In the second study, we examine the distributions of particle acceleration and turbulence regions around CME-driven shocks with wave-like features. We consider these corrugated shock as the result of disturbances from the bimodal SW, CME deflection, irregular CME expansion, and the ubiquitous fluctuations in the solar corona. We model smooth CME-driven shocks using polar Gaussian profiles. With the addition of wave-like functions, we obtain the corrugated shocks. For both shock types are calculated the shock normal angles between the shock normal and the radial upstream coronal magnetic field in order to classify the quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular regions linked to the particle acceleration and turbulence regions, respectively. Our calculations show the predisposition of the shock to the particle acceleration and indicate that the irregular CME expansion is the relevant factor in the particle acceleration process. We consider that these wave-like features in shocks may be essential in the study of current problems as injection particle, instabilities, downstream-jets, and shock thermalization. / As ejeções de massa coronal (do inglês coronal mass ejections, CMEs) são consideradas traçadores da atividade solar. Durante a evolução das CMEs no vento solar (do inglês solar wind, SW), o choque e o envoltório (do inglês sheath, Sh) são estabelecidos. Nesta fase, a transferência da energia e a termalização do choque podem ter origem através de vários processos, entre eles instabilidades e aceleração de partculas. Aqui nós apresentamos dois estudos relacionados às CMEs. No primeiro estudo, analisamos a existência da instabilidade KelvinHelmholtz (KHI) nas interfaces CMESh e ShSW. Para isto, supomos duas CMEs que se propagam independentemente no SW lento e rápido. Modelamos as velocidades, densidades e a intensidade do campo magnético dos envoltórios e SW nos flancos das CMEs, a fim de resolver a condição de Chandrasekhar para a existência da KHI magnética. Nossos resultados revelam que a formação da KHI pode ser mais provável na CME que se propaga no SW lento do que na CME que se propaga no SW rápido. Isto é devido a um maior cisalhamento entre a CME e o SW lento. Além disso, encontramos que a interface ShSW é ser mais suscetvel à instabilidade. No segundo estudo, examinamos as distribuições das regiões de aceleração de partculas e turbulência em choques ondulados com caractersticas semelhantes a ondas. Assumimos choques ondulados como resultado de perturbações do SW bimodal, deflexão da CME, expansão irregular da CME, e flutuações onipresentes na coroa solar. Construmos choques sem ondulações usando perfis Gaussianos. Com adição de funções semelhantes a ondas, obtemos os choques ondulados. Para ambos tipos de choques, calculamos os ângulos entre o vector normal ao choque e o campo magnético coronal radial, assim classificamos as regiões como quase-paralelas e quase-perpendiculares que são ligadas às regiões de aceleração de partculas e turbulência, respectivamente. Nossos cálculos mostram a predisposição do choque para o fenômeno de acceleração de partculas, e indicam que a expansão irregular da CME é o fator de maior relevância neste processo. Consideramos que assumir ondulações nos choques pode ser essencial nos estudos de problemas atuais como injeção de partculas, instabilidades, jatos e termalização dos choques.