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FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OF MERCURY CONTROL IN COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS
Citation:
Kilgroe*, J D. AND C. Senior. FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OF MERCURY CONTROL IN COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS. Presented at Air Quality Conference IV, Arlington VA, 22-24 September 2003.
Description:
The paper discusses the existing knowledge base applicable to mercury (Hg) control in coal-fired boilers and outlines the gaps in knowledge that can be filled by experimentation and data gathering. Mercury can be controlled by existing air pollution control devices or by retrofit technologies, and choosing the best approach for any given unit requires knowledge of the chemistry of Hg in flue gas, including its behavior in existing air pollution control devices abetted with retrofit technologies such as activated carbon injection. Furthermore, the impact of fuel switching and blending on the efficiency of mercury control must also be understood. While laboratory-scale experiments are important, pilot- and full-scale test data are needed to adequately understand the control of Hg in coal-fired units. The paper reviews current speciation and capture models and uses them to interpret recent pilot- and full-scale test results. Finally, the paper discusses what further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that control the behavior of mercury in the many coal/combustion/control technology combinations that are used at coal-fired electric generating stations.