A DRY SORBENT INJECTION AND FILTRATION PROCESS FOR SO2 AND PARTICULATE REMOVAL FROM FLUE GAS

EFFORTS TO MITIGATE DAMAGE TO LAKES, FORESTS, AND OTHER ECOSYSTEMS FROM ACID RAIN HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES FOR SO2 EMMISSIONS. THE COMBUSTION OF COAL FOR POWER GENERATION HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH APPROXIMATELY 80% OF ALL SO2 EMISSIONS. WHILE FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD) TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS WET SCRUBBING, DRY SCRUBBING, AND DRY SORBENT INJECTION HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, PROBLEMS OF LOW SO2 REMOVAL EFFICIENCIES, LIMITED SPACE AND DIFFICULT ACCESS FOR RETROFIT INSTALLATIONS, AND HIGH CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS REMAIN UNSOLVED. DRY SORBENT INJECTION FOLLOWED BY PARTICULATE REMOVAL IS CLEARLY AN ATTRACTIVE APPROACH TO FLUE GAS CLEANING; HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OF INSUFFICIENT SO2 REMOVAL AND HIGH COST REQUIRE FURTHER INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT DURING PHASE I, A NOVEL APPROACH TO A PROCESS FOR SO2 REMOVAL AND PARTICULATE COLLECTION FROM COAL COMBUTION FLUE GAS WILL BE DEMONSTRATED. A LOW COST CERAMIC PARTICULATE FILTER AND MILLED HYDRATED LIME WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE COAL COMBUSTION TEST FACILITY OF EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS, FOR DEMONSTRATION OF SO2 AND PARTICULATE REMOVAL EFFICIENTY AND FILTER REGENERATION BY GAS BACKPUSLING. IN PHASE II, A SKIDDED TEST SYSTEM CONTAINING FULL SIZE CERAMIC FILTERS WILL BE CONTRUCTED FOR FIELD TESTS AT A COAL FIRED POWER GENERATING STATION TO DEMONSTRATE LONG TERM OPERATION