CO Combustion Unit for Sintering Flue Gas Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flue gas purification technologies for the steel industry, particularly in the sintering process, are inefficient in removing CO and NOx due to high costs, energy consumption, and instability, with existing denitrification methods requiring additional heating and being ineffective in treating CO emissions.

Innovation Solution

A sequential process involving desulfurization, CO combustion, and denitrification using a SCR reactor, where CO combustion heats the flue gas to the required temperature for denitrification, reducing CO emissions and reheating costs, and incorporating a heat exchange unit to optimize energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SCR technology is used for denitrification in sintering flue gas, then denitrification efficiency is improved, but the operating temperature requirement causes the flue gas to need heating, resulting in higher energy consumption and costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedenitrification efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful CO component in sintering flue gas into a beneficial heat source through catalytic combustion. The CO that would normally be emitted as pollution is combusted to generate the heat required for SCR denitrification, eliminating the need for external heating and reducing energy consumption while maintaining high denitrification efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If external heating is used to raise flue gas temperature for SCR denitrification, then denitrification reaction can proceed, but treatment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedenitrification reaction efficiencyVSAvoidreheating costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service heating system where the CO contained in the sintering flue gas serves as the fuel for its own heating requirement. The catalytic combustor utilizes the CO already present in the flue gas to generate the necessary temperature for SCR denitrification, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating external energy input and associated costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If conventional denitrification methods are used, then NOx removal is achieved, but CO emissions are not treated, requiring additional treatment processes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNOx removal efficiencyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the CO treatment function with the heating function for SCR denitrification. By integrating a catalytic combustor that processes CO into a heat source for the denitrification process, the system simultaneously treats both CO emissions and enables NOx removal through SCR, reducing overall process complexity while achieving multiple purification goals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Achieves high removal efficiencies for CO (up to 90%) and NOx (over 90%), with stable operation and low energy consumption, while reducing treatment costs and enhancing the overall purification efficiency through cascade heat utilization.

Implementation Method 1

CO combustion heats the flue gas to the required temperature for denitrification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

CO combustion heats the flue gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

denitrification using a SCR reactor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP3892358B1Device and method for purifying co and NOX sintered flue gas
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 INSTITUTE OF PROCESS ENGINEERING CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
  • EP3892358B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Provided are an apparatus and a method for purifying CO and NOx in sintering flue gas. The apparatus comprises a desulfurization unit, a CO combustion unit, and a denitrification unit connected in sequence, where the CO combustion unit comprises a CO catalytic combustor, the denitrification unit comprises an SCR reactor, and an outlet of the CO catalytic combustor is connected to an inlet of the SCR reactor. The present application adds the CO combustion unit between the desulfurization unit and the denitrification unit and uses the combustion of CO to heat the flue gas, which can not only reduce reheating costs of the flue gas but also significantly reduce the concentration of CO in the flue gas. The cascade utilization of heat is achieved through heat exchange of flue gases, reducing heat losses. The apparatus is easy to operate, can operate stably with low energy consumption for a long term, and has strong applicability to the flue gas and a good development prospect.