Electron Beam Technology for Multipollutant Emissions Control from Heavy Fuel Oil-Fired Boiler

Abstract

The electron beam treatment technology for purification of exhaust gases from the burning of heavy fuel oil (HFO) mazout with sulfur content approximately 3 wt % was tested at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology laboratory plant. The parametric study was conducted to determine the sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) removal efficiency as a function of temperature and humidity of irradiated gases, absorbed irradiation dose, and ammonia stoichiometry process parameters. In the test performed under optimal conditions with an irradiation dose of 12.4 kGy, simultaneous removal efficiencies of approximately 98% for SO2, and 80% for NO(x) were recorded. The simultaneous decrease of PAH and one-ringed aromatic hydrocarbon (benzene, toluene, and xylenes [BTX]) concentrations was observed in the irradiated flue gas. Overall removal efficiencies of approximately 42% for PAHs and 86% for BTXs were achieved with an irradiation dose 5.3 kGy. The decomposition ratio of these compounds increased with an increase of absorbed dose. The decrease of PAH and BTX concentrations was followed by the increase of oxygen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations. The PAH and BTX decomposition process was initialized through the reaction with hydroxyl radicals that formed in the electron beam irradiated flue gas. Their decomposition process is based on similar principles as the primary reaction concerning SO2 and NO(x) removal; that is, free radicals attack organic compound chains or rings, causing volatile organic compound decomposition. Thus, the electron beam flue gas treatment (EBFGT) technology ensures simultaneous removal of acid (SO2 and NO(x)) and organic (PAH and BTX) pollutants from flue gas emitted from burning of HFO. This technology is a multipollutant emission control technology that can be applied for treatment of flue gas emitted from coal-, lignite-, and HFO-fired boilers. Other thermal processes such as metallurgy and municipal waste incinerators are potential candidates for this technology application.

Electron beam treatment of simulated marine diesel exhaust gases

“…The study was performed in the laboratory plant at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (INCT) in Warsaw [7], which was additionally equipped with the dosing systems of gaseous SO 2 and NO from gas cylinders and the seawater scrubber. Figure 6 presents the fl ow diagram of test facility.…”

“…This technology was originally developed for coal-fi red power plants. The simultaneous removal of SO 2 and NO x with the generation of usable byproducts are its main advantages [7]. The e-beam technology has been already implemented on an industrial scale at three coal-fi red power plants: Chengdu and Hangzhou in China [8] and Szczecin "Pomorzany" in Poland [9] (Table 1).…”

The importance of the location of sodium chlorite application in a multipollutant flue gas cleaning system

“…Presently, there are many different control technologies in various stages of development (Chmielewski et al, 2010;Chu et al, 2001;Ellison, 2003;Hutson et al, 2008;Jin et al, 2006;Lee et al, 2005;Liu et al, 2010;Suchecki et al, 2005) that will allow these goals to be achieved. The most common and effective technology for SO 2 removal is flue gas desulfurization, in which limestone slurry is used as a scrubbing solution.…”