Mercury emission control in coal-fired plants: The role of wet scrubbers

Dı́az-Somoano, Mercedes; Unterberger, S.; Hein, K. R. G.

doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2006.10.003

Cited by 95 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Better effects are achieved by applying mercury sorption in a stationary bed of active coal (effi ciency reaching 90-95%) [16] and by using sulphur impregnated sorbents (effi ciency up to 99%) [8] than by injecting active coal dust into fl ue gases [18]. Wet gas cleaning in scrubbers reduces the emission of mercury, although data on the effi ciency is divergent [7,35]. Particularly effective, reaching up to 70%, is the cleaning of mercury in the Hg 2+ form.…”

Section: Sb 27mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coal Cleaning Versus the Reduction of Mercury and other Trace Elements’ Emissions from Coal Combustion Processes

Zajusz-Zubek¹,

Konieczyński²

2014

Archives of Environmental Protection

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Samples of steam coal used in heat and power plants as well as densimetric fractions obtained on a laboratory scale by dense organic liquid separation have been examined. The contents of ash, mercury, chromium, cadmium, copper, nickel and lead have been determined in coal, in the light and medium fraction as well as in the refuse. The degree of removal of mineral matter and the examined heavy metals as well as the coal combustible parts yield have been determined. Examination of 5 coals revealed that it is possible to remove 41% of mercury and more than 35% of other heavy metals bound to mineral matter in coal.

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Section: Sb 27mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coal Cleaning Versus the Reduction of Mercury and other Trace Elements’ Emissions from Coal Combustion Processes

Zajusz-Zubek¹,

Konieczyński²

2014

Archives of Environmental Protection

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“…The scrubbing process in WFGD system is capable to transfer Hg in flue gas into the slurry, especially for the oxidized Hg and fine particle Hg. In recent years, there have been some investigations on the removal effects of trace elements by different types of SO 2 control device configuration, and the tested removal efficiency varied substantially from 15% to 80% (Afonso and Senior, 2001;Chu and Porcella, 1995;Demir et al, 2001;Díaz-Somoano et al, 2007;Fahlike and Bursik, 1995;Helble, 2000;Lee et al, 2006;Meij and te Henk, 2007;Meij et al, 2002;Nelson et al, 2010;Park et al, 2008;Pavlish et al, 2003;Renninger et al, 2004;Senior et al, 2000;Srivastava et al, 2006;Wang et al, 1996Wang et al, , 2010Wang and Zhang, 2009;Yi et al, 2008;Zhang et al, 2008;Zhou et al, 2008;Zhu et al, 2002). For example, Wang et al (2010) report that the Hg removal efficiency of WFGD of six coal-fired power plants in China is in the range of 15.3-79.2%, with an average of about 51.8%.…”

Section: Removal Efficiency Of Hg Through Particulate Matter (Pm) Conmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hg 2þ is water-soluble and therefore amenable to be retained in WFGD or wet scrubbers. However, Hg 0 is insoluble in water and cannot be retained effectively in wet scrubbers, so that the final Hg stack discharge may be mostly Hg 0 vapor at the presence of ESPs/FFs þ FGD systems (Díaz-Somoano et al, 2007;Nelson et al, 2010;Park et al, 2008;Senior et al, 2000;Wang et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2008). For example, Wang et al (2010) have conducted comprehensive field measurements in six coal-fired power plants in China, and they indicated that the average share of Hg 0 to total Hg is about 46% for the boilers installed with ESPs, and the share of Hg 0 to total Hg in stack gas to the atmosphere is 75-94% for the boilers with ESPs þ WFGD system.…”

Section: Speciation Of Total Hg Emissions From Coal-fired Power Plantmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As demonstrated by field tests results, Hg emissions from large power plants can be effectively captured and reduced by the installed ESPs/FFs and FGD systems. Here, we adopted the arithmetic mean value of Hg speciation reported in available references, and assume that the average proportion of Hg 0 , Hg 2þ , and Hg P in total Hg emissions for the boilers installed with ESPs is about 52.4%, 45.8%, and 1.8%; and the average proportion for the boilers installed with FFs is about 27.4%, 61.3%, and 11.3%, whereas the average proportion for the boilers with ESPs and WFGD is about 81.0%, 18.6% and 0.4%, respectively (Brekke et al, 1995;Díaz-Somoano et al, 2007;Nelson et al, 2010;Park et al, 2008;Figure 6. Provincial Hg emissions and its speciation from coal-fired power plants in China, 2007.…”

Section: Speciation Of Total Hg Emissions From Coal-fired Power Plantmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Control strategies of atmospheric mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China

Tian

Cheng

et al. 2012

j air waste manag assoc

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Atmospheric mercury (Hg) emission from coal is one of the primary sources of anthropogenic discharge and pollution. China is one of the few countries in the world whose coal consumption constitutes about 70% of total primary energy, and over half of coals are burned directly for electricity generation. Atmospheric emissions of Hg and its speciation from coal-fired power plants are of great concern owing to their negative impacts on regional human health and ecosystem risks, as well as long-distance transport. In this paper, recent trends of atmospheric Hg emissions and its species split from coal-fired power plants in China during the period of 2000-2007 are evaluated, by integrating each plant's coal consumption and emission factors, which are classified by different subcategories of boilers, particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) control devices. Our results show that the total Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants have begun to decrease from the peak value of 139.19 t in 2005 to 134.55 t in 2007, though coal consumption growing steadily from 1213.8 to 1532.4 Mt, which can be mainly attributed to the co-benefit Hg reduction by electrostatic precipitators/fabric filters (ESPs/FFs) and wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD), especially the sharp growth in installation of WFGD both in the new and existing power plants since 2005. In the coming 12th five-year-plan, more and more plants will be mandated to install De-NO x (nitrogen oxides) systems (mainly selective catalytic reduction [SCR] and selective noncatalytic reduction [SNCR]) for minimizing NO x emission, thus the specific Hg emission rate per ton of coal will decline further owing to the much higher co-benefit removal efficiency by the combination of SCR þ ESPs/FFs þ WFGD systems. Consequently, SCR þ ESPs/FFs þ WFGD configuration will be the main path to abate Hg discharge from coal-fired power plants in China in the near future. However, advanced specific Hg removal technologies are necessary for further reduction of elemental Hg discharge in the long term.Implications: Controlling of atmospheric Hg discharge from coal-fired power plants have aroused great concerns for its adverse impacts on regional environment and human health risks, as well as long-distance transportation. It is of great significance for Chinese decision makers to be aware of the current status of Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants, so that the regulations and policies regarding Hg abatement can be made that are cost-effective and feasible implementation. This study provides the recent trend of atmospheric Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants, and accordingly proposes the preliminary comprehensive Hg control strategies suggestion in the future, which will be helpful for relevant policy making to minimize the harmful risks on environment and human health in China.

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“…In a multiphase flow turbulent scrubber, the particles carried by the gas bubbles interact with the continuous liquid flow and also with particles when the wake and bubble boundary layer overlap to form large bubbles. Pollock et al (1966) reported on the application of a turbulent contact absorber for the absorption of SO 2 and simultaneous removal of fly ash in a coal-fired power plant, with a fly ash collection efficiency of 98% and overall SO 2 removal of 91% (Bandyopadhyay and Biswas., 2007;Díaz-Somoano et al, 2007). Typically, particles around 1 µm and below 1 µm (submicrometer) present in small amounts in the total particulate mixture have serious impacts on human health and the environment (Dullien and Spink, 1978).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the performance of a turbulent wet scrubber for scrubbing particulate matter

Lee

Mohan

Byeon

et al. 2012

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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A turbulent wet scrubber was designed and developed to scrub particulate matter (PM) at micrometer and submicrometer levels from the effluent gas stream of an industrial coal furnace. Experiments were conducted to estimate the particle removal efficiency of the turbulent scrubber with different gas flow rates and liquid heads above the nozzle. Particles larger than 1 µm were removed very efficiently, at nearly 100%, depending upon the flow rate, the concentration of the dust-laden air stream, and the water level in the reservoir. Particles smaller than 1 µm were also removed to a greater extent at higher gas flow rates and for greater liquid heads. Pressure-drop studies were also carried out to estimate the energy consumed by the scrubber for the entire range of particle sizes distributed in the carrier gas. A maximum pressure drop of 217 mm H 2 O was observed for a liquid head of 36 cm and a gas flow rate of 7 m 3 /min. The number of transfer units (NTU) analysis for the efficiencies achieved by the turbulent scrubber over the range of particles also reveals that the contacting power achieved by the scrubber is better except for smaller particles. The turbulent scrubber is more competent for scrubbing particulate matter, in particular PM 2.5 , than other higher energy or conventional scrubbers, and is comparable to other wet scrubbers of its kind for the amount of energy spent.Implications: The evaluation of the turbulent scrubber is done to add a novel scrubber in the list of wet scrubbers for industrial applications, yet simple in design, easy to operate, with better compactness, and with high efficiencies at lower energy consumption. Hence the turbulent scrubber can be used to combat particulate from industrial gaseous effluents and also has a scope to absorb gaseous pollutants if the gases are soluble in the medium used for particles capture.

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Mercury emission control in coal-fired plants: The role of wet scrubbers

Cited by 95 publications

References 4 publications

Coal Cleaning Versus the Reduction of Mercury and other Trace Elements’ Emissions from Coal Combustion Processes

Coal Cleaning Versus the Reduction of Mercury and other Trace Elements’ Emissions from Coal Combustion Processes

Control strategies of atmospheric mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China

Evaluating the performance of a turbulent wet scrubber for scrubbing particulate matter

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