Improvements to apparatus for removing one or more components from gas emissions

Abstract

An apparatus for the removal of at least one component from a gas emission comprising: an inlet for the gas 21 into one or more modules for processing said gas 28, and an outlet from which the process

Description

The invention relates to apparatus for use in extracting components from a gas which, typically, is emitted from a processing premises such as for example, a waste handling plant and more specifically, although not exclusively gases emitted from biogas generation plants , or Eve stock areas such as poultry sheds. One known, although not exclusive use of the apparatus, which is most commonly known as “scrubber” apparatus, is to remove potentially harmful components, which can be contaminants, such as ammonia, from the gas which is emitted from the biogas handkng plants producing biogas, and thereby make the gas more environmentally acceptable when it has passed through the apparatus. The processed gas may then be provided for further uses and / or be upgraded for use, as for example a national gas supply. The use of “scrubbing” technology to remove one or more components from a gas is well-known, and the particular type of scrubbing to which this application is particularly related is that which is known as “wet scrubbing” in which air is passed through a bed of media and through which media, a Equid passes so as, in combination, to perform a scrubbing effect on the gas to scrub or remove one or more specified components from the gas. ConventionaUy, scrubbing apparatus is instaUed and built on site with the components for the apparatus dehvered as separate items to the site at which the same is to be used and instaUed. InstaUation personnel then undertake the assembly and installation of the apparatus to a particular bespoke design for that site. Common problems which are experienced in the instaUation of the conventional apparatus include the transport of the components to the site, management of the various tradespersons required to install said scrubbing technology, a scarcity of sufficiently trained operators to commission the technology on site, the space required for instaUation to be performed at the site and / or access to services required to operate the apparatus. Also, a known issue with conventional apparatus is the required height of the apparatus, which can be many metres, for example in excess of 6m in height. However it is conventionally accepted that this height of apparatus is required in order to allow the filtration and scrubbing of the one or more components from the gas to be achieved as the same passes through the liquid and media. This is because the height is regarded as necessary to ensures that there is sufficient space to accommodate the media and the liquid which passes through the same and that the length of passage of the gas through the media is sufficient so as to enable the effective removal of the at least one component to be achieved. Thus, the conventional wisdom is that the apparatus must be installed and constructed on site, commissioned on site and must be of a required height so as to allow the scrubbing effect to be achieved. Conventionally therefore, a large scrubbing vessel has to be installed on-site, then pipework engineers, electricians, duct workers and commissioning engineers all have to be taken to site to complete the installation process. Furthermore, the management of these multi-trades persons, and on occasion, their transport and accommodation over longer distances, causes project management difficulties and increased risk of site pressure to perform the work too quickly, hence causing inaccuracies in the installation. This extra travel requirement also increases the carbon footprint of the installation and the travel and accommodation requirements for the installation personnel, which are typically a highly trained set of operators, can be very high. Due to the problems indicated above, the provision of scrubbing apparatus can be relatively expensive, and, as a result, the use of the same is perhaps more limited than would be expected. An aim of the present invention is to provide a form of scrubbing apparatus which allows at least the same level of performance to be achieved as with conventional apparatus, and preferably an improved performance level to be achieved. A further aim is to allow installation &commissioning of the majority of the system, and components forming the same, to be performed at a location which is off-site and remote from the site of installation and to allow, preferably, Eve testing and commissioning of the apparatus to be performed off site and prior to movement of the apparatus to the installation site. A further aim is to allow the apparatus to be installed on site more easily and to be used in a wider range of environments without, or having minimal, height requirements. In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for use in the removal of at least one component from a gas emission, said apparatus including an inlet via which the said gas is introduced into one or more modules for processing said gas, an outlet via which the processed gas leaves the one or more modules and within the one or more modules there is provided a media and a liquid supply for a Equid to pass through said media and the gas is passed through the media and liquid and during the passage said at least one component is at least partially removed from said gas and carried by said media and / or Equid and wherein the apparatus includes a housing which forms a cavity including a compartment in which said one or more modules for processing said gas are located. In one embodiment the housing also includes a compartment in which control and / or supply means for operation of said one or more modules is located so that said first and second compartments are both located in the housing. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a plurahty of said modules and in one embodiment the modules are provided and operated so that different modules aUow the separation of different components from said gas. TypicaUy the said gas progresses sequentiaUy through said plurality of modules. TypicaUy the said plurahty of modules are provided in series and within the same housing. This aUows for comprehensive, high-efficiency gas treatment within a compact footprint, and aUowing the handling of multiple contaminants in sequence. TypicaUy the one or more components which are removed are regarded as being contaminants which are potentiaUy harmful if emitted in the surrounding environment and / or which restrict or affect the possible subsequent use of the gas emission. In one embodiment the said modules include any or any combination of a scrubber module to remove the Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) component, a scrubber module to remove an ammonia ( XI ( / component, a carbon filter scrubber module and a module to remove VolatUe Organic Compounds (VOC’s). In one embodiment the liquid introduced to the media for removal of the H2S includes caustic / hypo and acid scrubbers such as; Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCL) and / or Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). In one embodiment the Equid introduced to the media for removal of the ammonia component is Sulphuric acid. In one embodiment, each of the modules is provided for the removal of the same at least one component from the gas or alternatively, different modules may be operated to separate different components from the said gas. In one embodiment the said gas emission is that which is generated from a bio-gas generating site or plant. In another embodiment the gas emission which is generated for processing is from a Evestock rearing shed and from which dust as weU as gas is removed by the apparatus according to the invention. In one embodiment the housing is transportable and preferably is in the format of a container of standard shipping container dimensions to aUow the same to be transported to a site of use using shipping container transport vehicles. In one embodiment the housing includes a partition waU which separates the housing cavity into a compartment in which said control and / or supply means are located and a compartment in which said one or more modules are located. In one embodiment when at least two compartments are provided in the housing the said compartments are sealed from each other so as to substantially prevent the passage of gas between the said compartments so as to create a controUed environment to enhance operational safety, environmental protection, and system resiEence. In one embodiment, the housing includes control means including a control panel which includes control circuitry to aUow monitoring of the performance of the module and / or aUows user interface with the control panel to alter the condition of the operation of the one or more modules or to shut down the same. TypicaUy, the control panel includes a Equid leak detection system to continuously monitor for internal spiUs and / or a gas leak detection sensor to aUow detection of hazardous conditions; Enked to an emergency stop mechanism. Typically the emergency stop mechanism is integrated with slam-shut valves for immediate isolation of gas flow. Typically the control panel is automated to manage and monitor pH and / or sump Equid levels and / or oxidation-reduction potential (ORT) and / or conductivity. Typically the control panel is integrated with a weatherproof panel to provide safety and rehable operation in an industrial setting. In one embodiment, a plurality of modules are provided within the module compartment of the housing cavity, each of the modules provided to operate in parallel to remove at least one component from said gas which is introduced into the housing. Typically, there is provided a manifold system which links the inlet into the housing to said one or more modules and, if there are a number of modules, said manifold allows substantially the same volume of gas to be supplied to each of the modules operating at that time and the modules can be selectively operated simultaneously so as to allow the selection of the volume of gas which can be processed at any given time. In one embodiment, if one or more of the modules is required to be shut down for maintenance or breaks down, the gas supply to the, or those, modules can be stopped while gas continues to be supphed to operating modules in the housing to thereby allow a continuation of the processing of the gas. In one embodiment, the cavity in the housing also includes any pumping apparatus which is required to induce or extract gas and / or move Equid through the media so that the pumping apparatus and modules are sheltered from the external weather conditions. In one embodiment the pumping apparatus is configured to provide run-and-standby pump arrangements for continuous operation and serviceability. TypicaUy the apparatus is assembled under factory conditions. In one embodiment, the apparatus may also be commissioned and tested under factory conditions and then can be transported to site for use and connection to the gas supply. In one embodiment, the said media is provided as a bed of media through which the gas passes and into which bed Equid introduction means allow the flow of Equid onto and through the media. In one embodiment, the liquid is introduced via one or more members along which are provided apertures to aUow the Equid to be introduced onto the media as a spray. TypicaUy the apertures are formed so as to provide a directional flow of the liquid onto the media. TypicaUy, the gas which is processed and leaves each of the said modules within the cavity is combined by ductwork from the respective modules and then emitted through the outlet from the housing. TypicaUy, each of the modules is provided of a simUar design so as to enable repeatable, high-quality manufacturing and / or simplified spare parts inventory and replacement and / or reduced operator training burden and / or fast and consistent servicing and upgrades. In one embodiment, a plurahty of said housings are provided, in one embodiment, side by side or, alternatively, stacked so as to provide an increased throughput of gas within a relatively smaU footprint on the ground and thereby aUow the abikty to increase or decrease the throughput of gas, by selectively providing one or more housings and / or selecting the number of modules provided in each of said housings. TypicaUy the said housings are provided and controlled so as to operate in paraUel. TypicaUy, when the housings are stacked, access gantries can be provided to aUow the cavity, and hence the modules, sump, and other serviceable components in each of the housings to be accessible for servicing and maintenance. TypicaUy the housings are of stackable design to simpkfy vertical expansion and gantry integration. TypicaUy provided are side-mounted gantry support interfaces from external access and interface ease. In one embodiment the housings include unistrut framework integrated into the container walls for rapid instaUation of cable trays, pipework and instrumentation and any other attachments In one embodiment, the housing is provided to be bunded in which the same are provided with an interior layer and an exterior housing to provide robust containment so as to prevent the leakage of gases or liquids from the housing. Typically the system is self-bunded with optional segregation. Typically the internal bunding is achieved using GPR walls which form a tank to contain spills and comply with environmental regulations. This provides a secondary containment system to prevent leaks and spills externally of the housing. In another embodiment bunding is also provided stage-by-stage between modules such that the same provides prevention of cross-contamination between scrubber stages when required. Typically, each of the modules will share equal proportions of the total flow of gas which enters the housing. In one embodiment, the module housings are formed from a, typically high density, propylene sheet material. Typically, the gas enters at or towards the bottom of the module and flows up through a chamber including a packed bed of media which, in one embodiment, is made of 25mm polypropylene mesh “pall rings”. Typically, the media bed is located on a media support formed, in one embodiment, by perforated propylene sheet to provided minimal airflow resistance whilst allowing the Equid which flows downwardly through the bed of media to pass through the media support for collection or disposal. In one embodiment, the module also includes a mist eliminator unit which collects fluid droplets and allows these droplets to fall back into the module rather than being carried through the outlet ducting along with the gas emitted from the module. In one embodiment, the collected Equid is held in a sump at the bottom of the module. In one embodiment, the Equid is water with added reagent chemicals which may be added automaticaUy and controUed with respect to the monitored Ph value of the liquid. In one embodiment, the reagent is stored in a vessel which may be outside of the housing and is added via a dosing pump, the operation of which, can be controUed by control apparatus. TypicaUy, the liquid is circulated by a pump up to the spray bars located towards the top of the chamber of the module and the liquid is then sprayed over the media to move through the same so that the Equid and media capture and remove the at least one component from the gas which passes through the module. In one embodiment, the media is packed to a predetermined density which may vary from module to module but will most typically be the same for each of the modules in the housing. However the density may be varied in different systems depending on environmental conditions, the type of gas which is to be treated and / or component or components which are to be removed therefrom. In one example, when 25mm pall rings are used as the media, the density will be at or around 69 kg / m3. The flow rate of liquid through the media may be varied depending on the above criteria and also with respect to the size of the apparatus. However, for illustration, a relatively small capacity version of the system may have a flow rate of Equid into the media of 18m3 / hour per m3. In one embodiment, each of the containers is capable of processing in the region of 40,000 m3 of gas per hour and the capacity of the apparatus as a whole, can be multiphed by the number of housings which are located and connected on site to the gas emission. In one embodiment, the housing includes one or more fans, dosing and circulating pumps, control systems and reagent dosing controls so as to aUow the operation of the said one or more modules to be achieved and controUed within the housing of the container. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be used for gas absorption, cooling and / or condensing. In one embodiment, the housing may include a self-cleaning mechanism that aUows the automatic cleaning of the internal components of the modules and / or monitoring of operation of the same. In one embodiment the dosing of the liquid with the appropriate reagent for use in the removal of one or more contaminants as it passes through the filtering module may occur automaticaUy. TypicaUy the Equid which leaves a module is tested and, if appropriate, further reagent is added to the liquid prior to the same being reintroduced to pass through the module so as to maintain the effectiveness of the Equid and the abihty to remove the one or more contaminants. In one embodiment, if the Equid is detected as being past its useful Efe the Equid will be drained from the apparatus and a fresh liquid with the required reagent used instead. In one embodiment there is included an integrated drainage system for safe and controlled removal of Equids. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first filter module through which the emitted gas first passes in order to perform an initial cleaning stage in which the Equid used is water with no reagent. In one embodiment the filter module apparatus is provided in a housing which, with respect to the direction of flow of the emitted gas, is downstream from a housing containing prefiltering apparatus and / or upstream from a housing in which extraction fans and apparatus are provided. In an alternative embodiment aU of said apparatus is provided within a common housing. TypicaUy a module with a carbon filter media module is the last in the series of modules through which the emitted gas passes. This enables various contaminants to be removed from the emitted gas before it reaches the carbon filter media bed and therefore reduces the rate of usage, and hence prolongs the Efe of effectiveness of the carbon media, which is a relatively expensive filter material and so provides economical benefit. In one embodiment the liquid which has passed through the one more modules and which includes at least some of the contaminants therein may be reused to pass through other modules and / or may be use for different purposes subsequent to its use for filtering. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the removal of at least one component from a gas emission, said method including the steps of introducing said gas into a first of one or more modules for processing said gas and within the one or more modules there is provided a media and a liquid supply to supply a liquid to pass into and through the said media, passing the gas through said media and Equid so as to at least partiaUy remove at least one component from said gas and retain said at least one component in said media and / or Equid and wherein the one or more modules are located in a first compartment of a housing cavity and control and / or supply means for operation of said one or more modules are located in a second compartment of said housing cavity and said housing is transportable from a site of assembly and testing to a site of use and connection to said gas emission. In one embodiment the control and / or supply means include circulating apparatus to circulate the said Equid through the one or more modules and the said liquid condition is monitored and, if required, one or more reagents are add to the Equid prior to the same being recirculated into the said one more modules or the existing Equid is drained and a new water and one or more reagents Equid is introduced. The apparatus therefore provides a compact apparatus which is easy to access and which includes one or more processing modules therein. The housing is provided to be resistant to physical damage during transport, site handling and external forces and can be manufactured, assembled and tested under factory conditions before shipping to site using relatively easy to use transport systems such as a conventional shipping container transport vehicle so as to provide ease of global transportation and logistics. The apparatus is then easy to fit and mount on site with minimal personnel and machinery required, and lower instaUation costs. Furthermore, there is a minimised risk of installation errors leading to unplanned downtime. ConventionaUy the construction of conventional scrubber apparatus requires approximately four weeks for four engineers to assemble and fit together the apparatus components on site and connect the same via pipework and wiring and generally construct the apparatus on site and which may also include significant air, sea and / or road mileage for the transport of the components, as weU as the personnel. In contrast, according to the current invention, the apparatus can be assembled under factory conditions so providing greater control and quality of assembly, and can be tested, prior to the same being dekvered to site and with the requirement for instaUation personnel to only be at the site of use for a week due to the greatly reduced for assembly and instaUation work to be performed at the site of use, thus aUowing faster instaUation and rapid on-site deployment, leading to reduced plant shutdown duration. Furthermore, when the housing is provided in the form of a shipping container, transporting the same is more easUy achieved. There is therefore provided in accordance with the invention a modular system which is capable of removing a sufficiently large volume and / or percentage of contaminant components from the emitted gas so as to aUow the processed gas to be capable of being used for further processes. Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein Figure 1 illustrates an external view of apparatus formed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1 with a side wall removed for ease of illustration to show the internal cavity of the housing in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a further representation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 illustrates a plurality of said apparatus housings in a stacked arrangement; and Figure 5a illustrates a housing in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention with certain walls removed for ease of illustration; Figure 5b illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 5a; Figure 5c illustrates the module installed in the apparatus of Figures 5a and b in more detail; Figures 5d and e illustrate sectional views along sectional Unes B and C of Figure 5f respectively; Figure 5f illustrates an elevation of the apparatus shown in Figures 5a and b; Figure 5g illustrates sectional views along sectional line A of Figure 5f; Figures 5h-i illustrates schematic views of the module of the apparatus shown in Figure 5c; Figure 6a illustrates apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention in perspective; Figure 6b illustrate a sectional end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 6a; and Figure 7 illustrates the apparatus of Figures 6a and b fitted in position with the source of the gas emissions which are to be processed. Referring now to the Figures, there is illustrated apparatus in accordance with the invention and the apparatus comprises a container or housing 2 which, in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 would normally be wholly enclosed and in the embodiment of Figures 5a-i is partially open. The housing is formed with side walls 4,6, end walls 8,10 and top and base walls 12,14 which define a housing cavity 20 therein. The provision of the side walls, top and base walls and side end walls of the housing are in this embodiment provided of a standard size which matches conventional dimensions for shipping containers such as 20ft or 40ft lengths, 8ft widths and 8ft six inch high or 9 ft 6inch high. The provision of the housing with these dimensions enables the same to be transported using conventional shipping container transport vehicles and / or ships and thereby greatly improves the ability to move the apparatus from a point of factory manufacture and assembly to the location of use. The housing 2 can also include shipping locators 16 thereon. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the apparatus of Figure 1 with the side wall 4 removed for ease of illustration but typically, access to the cavity 20 of the housing would be achieved by opening the doors 18 which are illustrated in Figure 1. In the apparatus within the housing cavity 20 there are provided a series of components, these include an inlet 21 which may be connected to a fan unit 22, and an outlet 24 which passes to a wall 10 of the housing or container 2. The inlet 21 acts as the interface between the plant or premises which is the source of the emitted gas which is to be processed and the outlet 24 acts as the interface between the supply of processed gas and the external environment or to another processing apparatus for subsequent use or storage. Ducting 26 allows the introduction of the gas, in this embodiment, to one gas processing or scrubbing module 28. The module is also provided with an outlet ducting 30 which connects the same to outlet 24 which, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4, is in the same end wall 10 of the container as the inlet but this need not necessarily be the case. An interior partition wall 32 is provided to split the cavity housing 20 into two compartments. Also provided, is a control panel 34 which includes control circuitry to allow monitoring of the performance of the module 28 and / or allows user interface with the control panel to alter the condition of operation of the one or more modules 28 or to shut the same down. The cavity 20 may also include a dosing tank and cabinet 36 for the storage of a reagent which is to be selectively added via dosing pump 46 into the chamber 38 within the module 28 and more particularly, to Equid which is passed through the module as will now be explained. In each module, there is provided an inlet 21 of the gas which allows the gas to pass into a media bed 39 in the module 28 which acts as a filter so as to allow one more components of the gas to be removed. In addition, a Equid is introduced into the chamber and media bed so that the Equid passes downwardly as indicated by arrow 42 in Figure 5h through the media typicaUy in the opposite direction to that of the movement of the gas through the module as indicated by arrow 44. The combination of the liquid and the media causes the capture and removal of the specific one or more components which are to be removed from the gas. The gas, with the one or more components removed, then leaves the module via the outlet 24, located towards the top of the same. The Equid is typically formed of water and one or more reagents with the reagent being supphed, typicaUy at or adjacent to a circulating pump 48 for the circulation and recirculation of the Equid through the filter media of the module 28. The Equid which leaves the chamber 38 is coUected in a sump 50 at the base of the module and is then pumped back towards the top of the chamber 38 of the module to one or more spray arms or members 52 located above the media 39 in the module 28. The arms or members 52 can include a plurakty of apertures which, typicaUy are provided to be directional in as much that they allow controlled exit of liquid therefrom into the media in the chamber 38 and typicaUy with a view to ensuring that liquid passes into aU of the media so as to provide the most effective removal of one or more components from the gas. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a mist eliminator 54 within the module or externaUy thereof in order to remove moisture droplets which may stiU be suspended in the process gas stream which is about to or has left the module. Liquid coUected in this way drains back into the sump. Any media which is in the sump and which is bekeved to have been spent can be purged via a drain system provided as part of the apparatus for safe disposal. It should be appreciated that the Figures 2 and 3 iUustrate one module 28 provided within the cavity 20. However, it is possible that the housing includes more than one module 28 in the cavity compartment 55 and in this configuration the inlet and outlet ducting will be adapted so as to act as a manifold so as to provide, typically equal, quantities of the gas which enters the inlet 21, to be split to supply to each of the modules 28 so that each module can then process the gas simultaneously. Also, it is envisaged that most typically, the modules will be operated so as to each remove the same one or more components from the gas but, it is possible that different modules may be formed and / or include Equid and / or media so as to allow different components of the gas to be removed from the respective modules. The emitted gas is therefore then typically combined and moved to the outlet 24. In addition to the provision of one or modules, a number of the apparatus housings 2 may be provided to be stacked, or placed side by side. However, the stacking of the housings 2 as illustrated in Figure 4, is preferred as it allows greater throughput of gas to be achieved via the modules in each of the apparatus containers without requiring additional floor space 54. Typically, the housings 2, when stacked, are provided with access means to allow access to be gained by maintenance personnel to each of the housings and hence each of the modules 28 within each of the housing cavities 20. Figures 5a-i illustrate a further embodiment of the invention although the same reference numerals are used for the same features as shown in the other embodiments. In this particular embodiment the housing cavity shows the provision of the first compartment 55 in which the one or more modules 28 are provided and a second compartment 56 in which the control means and / or supply means are provided. It should be appreciated that preferably the embodiments shown in Figures 1-4 also include housings which re provided first and scone compartment configurations. In the Figures 5a-i the compartment 55 is partially open as a result of the wall 10 being open and those parts 4’ and 6’ of the side walls which form the compartment 55 open so as to maximum ventilation within the compartment 55 of the housing and so reduce the risk of possible gas build up. Typically the roof 12 is retained so as to provide, in combination with the base 14, rigidity of the container and also the roof provides a level of weather protection for the apparatus in the housing. In addition to the module 28 with the media 39 located in the compartment 55, there is provided a compartment 56 on the opposing side of the partition wall 32 which is shown in Figures 5b,g,f and the frame for which is shown in Figure 5a with the wall itself being removed for ease of reference in Figure 5a as are the roof 12,end wall 8 and portion 4” of the side wall 4. The compartment 56 is typically sealed from the other compartment 55 and the external environment by the provision of the solid side wall portions 4”, 6”, end wall 8, roof 12, base 14 and partitional wall 32 as illustrated in Figure 5b. The compartment 56 is also electrically isolated and the control means 34 and any other electrically operated items and supplies are located therein and thereby sealed off from the ATEX area 58 formed in the first compartment 55 and in which the module 28 is located so that as much of the electrical apparatus as possible is isolated from the gas contact parts of the module and the apparatus as a whole. Typically non return valves 60 are installed in the pipework to and from the module so as to further reduce the risk of gas entering the non- ATEX area of the housing and preferably mechanical ventilation means are installed in the compartment 56 to reduce the risk of gas build up within the compartment. Within each module or modules 28 there is provided a support plate 68 on which the filter media 39 is located within the module and the support plate is typically perforated so as to allow the passage of gas and liquid therethrough, in directions 44 and 42 respectively. A mesh plate 62 which is typically above the level at which the liquid in the media is expected to be is provided to reduce any turbulence in the liquid which may be caused by the passage of the gas through the media and liquid. The liquid such as water may be introduced through inlet 64 into the module and exit the sump via drain 66 when the liquid is no longer in a condition to be re-used. Typically, the apparatus with the components shown in the cavity 20 in Figures 2 and 3 will be assembled under factory conditions and, furthermore, the operation of the same can be tested and commissioned under factory conditions prior to the same being delivered as a wholly or at least partially completed apparatus to the site of use which may be many miles away. This therefore greatly reduces the number of personnel which are required to be on site at the location of use and the time for personnel to be located at the site of use as the installation times are significantly reduced in comparison to the conventional process of installing and manufacturing the apparatus on site. Furthermore, the testing and commissioning of the apparatus under factory conditions is typically more accurate and allows the apparatus to be ready to use once located at the site for use. For example the pressure resistance of the gas contact parts are to be tested to work to 200mBar- the typical pressure resistance required on landfill gas lines. The present invention therefore removes the need for a number of different skilled tradespersons i.e. pipework engineers, electricians, duct workers and commissioning engineers to travel to and work at the site of installation and means that only one type of tradesperson is now required to be present at the site of installation to connect the preformed and tested system, when delivered, to the gas inlet and gas outlet piping. The current therefore provides the advantage of convenience and has an environmental benefit of reduced travel with the reduction in the carbon footprint amounting to possibly a 90% reduction in comparison to conventional installation techniques. Furthermore, the transportation and craneage of the preformed apparatus is simplified whilst also improving the quality of the apparatus provided to the site of use and improving the quality of operation of the apparatus once installed. Figures 6a-b and 7 illustrate apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the apparatus includes a housing 102, which defines an interior cavity 104 in a similar manner to that described in the previous embodiments and the walls are typically formed of steel with an interior protective finer layer such as could be formed by GRP so as to minimise the risk of corrosion of the side walls, end walls, a top and a base. The apparatus includes gas inlet ducts 106 inlet through which a gas from which at least one component is to be removed, enters into the interior cavity 108 of the housing and at least one outlet 110 from which the processed gas is emitted. In the interior of the cavity there is provided a support platform or deck 112 on which a filtering media 114 (in this embodiment carbon pall rings) is located and through which the gas passes in the direction of arrows 116 and also through which a liquid introduced into the interior cavity, which passes in the direction of arrows 118, typically in a substantially opposite direction to that of the gas so that the said at least one component which is removed from the gas is retained within the media and / or carried away by said liquid and the gas exist through the outlet 110. The Equid which passes through the media bed 114 passes through the perforated support platform 112 and is collected in the sump area 118 for subsequent recirculation or removal for disposal. In one embodiment, the said media 114 and the support platform 112 therefor, is located along the length and / or width of the interior cavity. In an alternative embodiment, at least one portion of the interior cavity 108 is provided as a separate compartment to the compartment in which the said media is located and the said separate compartment includes control means for the operation of the apparatus located therein in the same manner as in the previously described embodiments. In one embodiment, the Equid is introduced onto the media on the top surface thereof via spray bars 120 connected to a supply of the filter Equid which in this embodiment may be water and passes through outlets, at spaced locations on the spray bars which are provided at spaced locations along the length of the interior of the cavity so as to aUow the gas which is to be processed, to pass into the interior cavity via each of the outlets thereby improving throughput and also aUowing a connection of gas which is emitted from a plurahty of spaced inputs from for example a poultry shed , to be processed simultaneously. Figure 7 shows the apparatus housing 102 connected to a poultry shed 122 and the gas emissions are from the interior of the poultry rearing structure and pass along a manifold ducting assembly 124 towards the input or inputs 106 and into the interior of the housing 102 of the apparatus. In one embodiment, the at least one component which is removed from the gas is ammonia but other components such as dust and / or odours may also be removed from the interior. TypicaUy, the system is herein described aUows connection to all of a plurahty of gas emission extraction points from the said structure 122 which are typically spaced apart along the roof 126 of the said structure. It will also be appreciated that as the housing is provided as an integral unit, the same can be assembled offsite and under more strictly controUed factory assembly conditions and can also be tested under factory conditions, thereby providing a more accurate and effective form of apparatus which can then be carried as a container using containerised transport to the location of use and instaUed relatively quickly and efficiently.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the removal of at least one component from a gas emission, said apparatus including an inlet via which the said gas is introduced into one or more modules for processing said gas, an outlet via which the processed gas leaves the one or more modules and within the one or more modules there is provided a media and a liquid supply for a Equid to pass through said media and the gas is passed through the media and Equid and during the passage said at least one component is at least partiaUy removed from said gas and carried by said media and / or liquid and wherein the apparatus includes a housing which forms a cavity including a compartment in which said one or more modules for processing said gas are located.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a partition waU which separates the cavity into a compartment in which control and / or supply means are located and the compartment in which said one or more modules are located.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said compartments are sealed so as to substantiaUy prevent the passage of gas between the said compartments.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a plurahty of modules are provided within the cavity in the housing and connected to operate in parallel to remove at least one component from said gas which is introduced into the housing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of the modules are provided and operated to remove the same at least one component from the gas.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of modules is provided of a form and is selectively operated to remove a different component from the said gas than a component removed by at least one of the other modules.

7. Apparatus according to any of the claims 4-6 wherein each of the modules is provided of a similar design and the selection of the particular media located in and / or liquid to flow through said respective modules is used to define the particularat least one component to be removed from the gas as it passes through the respective modules.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said at least one component which is removed from the gas when passing through said one or more modules is any of ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen chloride, sulphur dioxide, or any combination thereof.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes a manifold system to allow the passage of the gas from the inlet into the housing to said one or more modules and to allow substantially the same volume of gas to be supplied to each of the modules operating at a particular time.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein if one or more of the modules is shutdown the manifold system allows the supply of gas to said one or more of the modules to be stopped.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said control and / or supply means includes pumping apparatus to induce or extract gas and / or move Equid through said media.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the housing is a transportable container to allow the same to be transported from a site of assembly of the apparatus to a site of use using, vehicles and / or shipping for said transport.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the apparatus is assembled under factory conditions and then transported to site of use for installation.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the apparatus is commissioned and tested under said factory conditions prior to transportation to the site of use.15 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said media is provided as one or more beds or layers of media in the said one or more modulesand into which liquid is introduced to flow therethrough and through which the said gas is passed.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the Equid is introduced into the media in the said module via one or more members including apertures to allow the Equid to be introduced therethrough and as a spray onto the media.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the apertures are located and so as to enable a directional flow of the liquid onto the media.

18. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said gas which is processed and leaves each of the said modules within the cavity is coUected by ductwork from the one or more modules and then emitted into a further module or emitted from at least one outlet from the housing.

19. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes a plurahty of said housings and the number and configuration of connection of said housings is selected so as to enable the gas processing type and capacity of the apparatus to be selected to suit the particular gas processing requirements at the site of use.

20. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the housing cavity and / or compartments are bunded by providing an interior wall which defines a secondary containment system to prevent leaks and spiUs.

21. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the gas is introduced at or towards the bottom of a module and flows upwardly through the said media which is located on one or more media supports in the said module and the said Equid flows in substantiaUy the opposite direction from or towards the top of the module towards the bottom of the module.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the one or more media supports are formed by a perforated sheet material to aUow the flow of said gas therethrough andthe flow of Equid which has passed through the bed of media to pass through the media support for collection for re-use or disposal.23 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said media is polypropylene mesh pall rings or carbon.

24. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the one or more modules include means to collect liquid droplets and allow the droplets to fall back into the module rather than being carried along with the gas emitted from the module.

25. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the liquid is held in a sump.

26. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the liquid carries said one or more components removed from the gas from the one or more modules for collection in said sump.

27. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the liquid comprises water mixed with one or more reagent chemicals, with the said reagent chemicals stored in a vessel as part of said control and / or supply means and supplied to the water via a dosing pump as and when required.

28. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said control and / or supply means include one or more fans, dosing and / or circulating pumps so as to allow the operation of said one or more modules to be controlled within the housing.

29. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the housing includes a self-cleaning mechanism to allow the automatic cleaning of the internal components of the modules and / or monitoring of operation of the same and to perform cleaning actions as and when the requirement for the same is detected.30 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said compartments are sealed from each other so as to substantially prevent the passage of gas therebetween.31 A method for the removal of at least one component from a gas emission, said method including the steps of introducing said gas into a first of one or more modules for processing said gas and within the one or more modules there is provided a media and a liquid supply to supply a Equid to pass into and through the said media, passing the gas through said media and Equid so as to at least partially remove at least one component from said gas and retain said at least one component in said media and / or Equid and wherein the one or more modules are located in a first compartment of a housing cavity and control and / or supply means for operation of said one or more modules are located in a second compartment of said housing cavity and said housing is transportable from a site of assembly and testing to a site of use and connection to said gas emission.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the control and / or supply means include circulating apparatus to circulate the said Equid through the one or more modules and the said Equid condition is monitored and, if required, one or more reagents are add to the Equid prior to the same being recirculated into the said one more modules or the existing Equid is drained and a new water and one or more reagents Equid is introduced.A

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