Thief process for the removal of mercury from flue gas
US6521021B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S95/901
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A system and method for removing mercury from the flue gas of a coal-fired power plant is described. Mercury removal is by adsorption onto a thermally activated sorbent produced in-situ at the power plant. To obtain the thermally activated sorbent, a lance (thief) is inserted into a location within the combustion zone of the combustion chamber and extracts a mixture of semi-combusted coal and gas. The semi-combusted coal has adsorptive properties suitable for the removal of elemental and oxidized mercury. The mixture of semi-combusted coal and gas is separated into a stream of gas and semi-combusted coal that has been converted to a stream of thermally activated sorbent. The separated stream of gas is recycled to the combustion chamber. The thermally activated sorbent is injected into the duct work of the power plant at a location downstream from the exit port of the combustion chamber. Mercury within the flue gas contacts and adsorbs onto the thermally activated sorbent. The sorbent-mercury combination is removed from the plant by a particulate collection system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.