A LOW PRESSURE DROP GAS PHASE ALKALI METAL SCAVENGER

INTEGRATED COAL GASIFICATION COMBINED CYCLE POWER GENERATION IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND FLEXIBLE TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD PROVIDE AN ECONOMICALLY ATTRACTIVE OUTLET FOR THE VAST COAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES. TO CAPTURE FULLY THE POTENTIAL, TREATMENT OF THE SYNTHESIS GAS TO REMOVE OBJECTIONABLE ELEMENTS IN A HOT, HIGH PRESSURE STREAM IS ESSENTIAL. VOLATILE TRACE ALKALI METALS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN RAW GASES PRODUCED BY COAL GASIFICATION. THE USE OF IN-BED DESULFURIZATION INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR ALKALI METAL CONTAMINATION OF THE RAW GAS. THESE METALS ARE A SOURCE OF CORROSION IN THE GAS TURBINES OF A COMBINED CYCLE PLANT AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. ALUMINA IS A KNOWN ABSORBENT FOR ALKALI METALS. A PARALLEL PASSAGE REACTOR FABRICATED FROM SCREENS IMPREGNATED WITH ALUMINA WILL BE TESTED AS A LOW PRESSURE DROP GAS PHASE ALKALI METAL SCAVENGER. THIS TECHNOLOGY APPEARS TO OFFER A LOW COST APPROACH TO REMOVAL OF ALKALI METALS FROM HOT GAS STREAMS.