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Dry sorbent injection of trona to control acid gases from a pilot-scale coal-fired combustion facility
Citation:
Yelverton, T., D. Nash, E. Brown, C. Singer, J. Ryan, AND P. Kariher. Dry sorbent injection of trona to control acid gases from a pilot-scale coal-fired combustion facility. AIMS Environmental Science. AIMS Press, Springfield, MO, 3(1):45-57, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
Gaseous and particulate emissions measurements from the combustion of coal were collected using EPA's Multi-Pollutant Control Research Facility (MPCRF) to investigate dry sorbent injection of the mineral trona for acid gas control (specifically 905 reduction of HCl). The facility's electrostatic precipitator and baghouse were used independently for PM control and the results are discussed within.
Description:
Gaseous and particulate emissions from the combustion of coal have been associated with adverse effects on human and environmental health, and have for that reason been subject to regulation by federal and state governments. Recent regulations by the United States Environmental Protection Agency have further restricted the emissions of acid gases from electric generating facilities and other industrial facilities, and upcoming deadlines are forcing industry to consider both pre- and post-combustion controls to maintain compliance. As a result of these recent regulations, dry sorbent injection of trona to remove acid gas emissions (e.g. HCl, SO2, and NOx) from coal combustion, specifically 90% removal of HCl, was the focus of the current investigation. Along with the measurement of HCl, SO2, and NOx, measurements of particulate matter (PM), elemental (EC), and organic carbon (OC) were also accomplished on a pilot-scale coal-fired combustion facility. The results from this study describe the gaseous and particulate emissions from a coal-fired combustor burning bituminous coal and using dry sorbent injection of trona for control of acid gas emissions. From this investigation it was shown that high levels of trona were needed to achieve the goal of 90% HCl removal, but with this increased level of trona injection the ESP and BH were still able to achieve greater than 95% fine PM control. Further, measurement of acid gases by standard EPA methods as compared to an infrared multi-component gas analyzer revealed good correlation for emissions of HCl and SO2, but showed poor correlation in the measurement of NOx emissions.
