Anti-Clogging Nozzle for Wet Desulfurization Spray Towers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas cleaning and cooling systems using wet-type contact devices suffer from nozzle clogging, leading to inefficient gas treatment and increased operational costs due to the need for frequent cleaning and replacement of nozzles.

Innovation Solution

The use of anti-clogging nozzles with a dual orifice design, where the majority of the liquid flow is directed upward during operation and a small amount downward, providing a drainage route for particulates to prevent clogging when the system is not in use, reducing the need for frequent cleaning and replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional nozzles are used in wet-type contact devices, then liquid can be supplied for gas cleaning and cooling, but nozzle clogging occurs leading to inefficient gas treatment and increased operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle operation reliabilityVSAvoidgas treatment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is divided into multiple spray outlets arranged in different directions (upward, downward, lateral). This segmentation allows different portions of the nozzle to serve different functions: some outlets spray liquid during operation while others provide drainage pathways, preventing clogging by separating the spray function from the drainage function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle design incorporates downward and lateral spray outlets that are positioned and oriented to create drainage pathways before clogging can occur. These outlets are strategically placed to drain particulates away from the upward spray outlets in advance, preventing accumulation and clogging before they affect gas treatment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If nozzles spray liquid upward during operation, then gas cleaning efficiency is improved, but particulate accumulation causes clogging when the system is not in use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas cleaning efficiencyVSAvoidnozzle clogging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having all nozzles spray only upward during operation, the invention incorporates nozzles that spray in opposite directions (downward and lateral) during operation. This inversion of the conventional single-direction spray approach creates automatic drainage pathways that prevent particulate accumulation, solving the clogging problem while maintaining cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-directional nozzle design serves multiple functions simultaneously: upward spray outlets provide the primary gas cleaning function, while downward and lateral outlets provide both supplementary cleaning and automatic drainage functions. This multi-functionality allows the nozzle system to maintain high gas cleaning efficiency while inherently preventing clogging through the drainage capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If frequent nozzle cleaning and replacement is performed, then nozzle clogging is prevented, but operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle functionalityVSAvoidoperational costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle design is self-maintaining through its multi-directional spray configuration. The downward and lateral spray outlets automatically create drainage pathways that prevent particulate accumulation during operation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for frequent manual cleaning and replacement, significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining reliable nozzle functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design significantly reduces nozzle clogging and associated operational costs by maintaining a continuous flow that prevents particulate accumulation, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of gas cleaning and cooling processes.

Implementation Method 1

a relatively small amount of liquid flow is discharged in a downward direction from an opposed extended portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity-driven flow: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

about 90 to about 99 or more of which is sprayed in an upward direction from an upward extending portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray dispersion: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP2859935B1Method and apparatus for wet desulfurization spray towers
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP2859935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2859935B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2859935B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and apparatus or system (10) is provided for cleaning a flue gas and/or cooling a flue gas with a dispersed finely divided absorption liquid. As such, the absorption liquid is dispersed in a wet scrubber (12) through which flue gas flows for absorption liquid and flue gas intermingling and contact to produce a cleaned flue gas. The absorption liquid supplied to the wet scrubber (12) is dispersed from upwardly spraying anti-clogging nozzles (52) and downwardly spraying nozzles (50) arranged to maximize absorption liquid and flue gas contact with minimal spray interference between nozzles (50, 52).