Electrostatic Precipitator Mercury Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for removing mercury from combustion gases, such as injecting activated carbon, face challenges with uniform distribution and efficiency due to poor mixing and carbon fallout, leading to inadequate mercury removal.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an electrostatic precipitator to control fly ash emission, creating a turbulent flow that suspends particulate matter, allowing for absorption of mercury, which is then filtered out, with a control system monitoring fly ash emission to optimize absorption sites and sorbent usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If activated carbon is injected into combustion gas to remove mercury, then mercury removal is achieved, but uniform distribution of particulate matter is difficult to obtain due to poor mixing and carbon fallout
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical injection system with an electrostatic field-based system. Instead of mechanically injecting activated carbon particles into the combustion gas flow, the system uses an electrostatic precipitator to generate charged fly ash particles that are then attracted to and absorbed by mercury vapor through electrostatic attraction and adsorption mechanisms, eliminating mixing and fallout issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the particulate matter by using electrostatically charged fly ash instead of neutral activated carbon. The electrostatic charge parameter enables the particles to remain suspended in the gas flow and be attracted to mercury, improving both distribution uniformity and removal efficiency
2Reliability
If injection rate of activated carbon is increased to improve mercury removal, then mercury removal efficiency increases, but poor mixing and carbon fallout problems are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical injection with electrostatic generation and attraction mechanisms, eliminating the need for high injection rates and the associated mixing and fallout problems
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic precipitator automatically generates and controls the quantity of charged fly ash particles based on operational parameters, eliminating the need for manual rate adjustment and the associated operational complexity
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 approach ensures continuous, efficient removal of mercury from combustion gases, reducing the need for external sorbents and minimizing energy consumption while maintaining cost-effectiveness and environmental compliance.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting a power input to an electrostatic precipitator to control a quantity of fly ash emitted from the electrostatic precipitator
Implementation Method 2
A turbulent flow of combustion gas is produced to suspend particulate matter including the quantity of fly ash contained in the supply of combustion gas
Implementation Method 3
A substantial portion of the mercury is absorbed within the particulate matter including the quantity of fly ash
Implementation Method 4
The supply of combustion gas is filtered to remove the particulate matter from the mercury
Data Source
AI summary
A method for continuously removing mercury from a supply of combustion gas is provided. The method includes adjusting a power input to an electrostatic precipitator to control a quantity of fly ash emitted from the electrostatic precipitator. A turbulent flow of combustion gas is produced to suspend particulate matter including the quantity of fly ash contained in the supply of combustion gas. A substantial portion of the mercury is absorbed within the particulate matter including the quantity of fly ash. The supply of combustion gas is filtered to remove the particulate matter from the mercury. A quantity of absorption sites available for absorbing mercury is controlled by monitoring an emission of fly ash from the electrostatic precipitator.