Flue Gas Desulfurization Technologies for Coal-Fired Power Plants

Abstract

The control of sulfur dioxide emissions from thermal power plants is examined in light of the recent advances made in developing commercial processes for this appli- cation. Beginning with a discussion of some of the more recent developments in the conventional wet and dry scrubbing technologies, the paper provides a description of the results of the recent full-scale demonstration projects conducted on the lower capital cost furnace and duct sorbent injection technologies — Limestone Injec- tion Multistage Burner (LIMB) and Coolside, respectively. In addition, the results of large pilot-scale research and development activities on the related Limestone Injection Dry Scrubbing (LIDS) and SO x -NO x -Rox Box (SNRB) processes are included. The paper concludes with a dis- cussion of the economics of each of the processes based on U.S. installation. Introduction International awareness of environmental concerns has been increasing in recent years as economists forecast explosive growth around the world. Such predictions high- light the importance of minimizing the impact of increased air, water, and solid waste pollutants. One area that has received a considerable amount of attention is the con- cern about the potential for acid rain that results from the generation of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) during the combustion of fossil fuels. Particularly notable are the programs on flue gas desulfurization (FGD) technologies that have been ongoing in a number of coun- tries for several years. Seeking to improve the effective-