Polymer-Protected Sorbent for Mercury Capture in Wet Flue Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sorbent technologies face challenges in effectively capturing trace level toxic species like mercury and selenium from both liquid and gas streams in industrial processes, particularly in coal-fired power plants, due to deactivation by liquid water and complexity in installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A polymer-protected sorbent material with sorbent particles embedded or covered by a polymer shell, allowing for efficient capture of toxic species while protecting against liquid water deactivation and simplifying installation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solid sorbent is used to adsorb gaseous mercury, then mercury capture efficiency is improved, but the sorbent is quickly de-activated by liquid water
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer coating is applied as an intermediary layer between the solid sorbent particles and the liquid water environment. This coating allows gaseous mercury to diffuse through to the sorbent surface for adsorption while blocking liquid water from contacting and deactivating the sorbent, thus resolving the contradiction between mercury capture efficiency and sorbent stability
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer forms a flexible thin film or shell around the sorbent particles, creating a protective barrier that selectively permits gas transport while preventing liquid penetration. This thin film structure maintains sorbent stability against water deactivation while preserving mercury adsorption capability
2Reliability
If polymer sheets or modules are placed inside near the exit of the FGD unit to capture mercury, then mercury capture is improved, but the modules require significant structural support with corrosion-resistant materials
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent is divided into small individual particles, each independently coated with polymer. These particles can be freely suspended or distributed in the FGD unit without requiring complex structural support frameworks, thus achieving mercury capture while simplifying the overall device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer-coated sorbent particles are designed as disposable or easily replaceable units. Instead of installing expensive corrosion-resistant structural modules, simple polymer-coated particles are used that can be readily replaced when depleted, reducing both initial complexity and long-term maintenance burden
3Reliability
If polymer sheets or modules are placed inside near the exit of the FGD unit, then mercury capture is improved, but it becomes operationally difficult to access and replace them
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent system is segmented into small individual particles rather than large monolithic modules. These particles can be easily introduced into the FGD unit through existing feed systems and removed via simple discharge mechanisms, dramatically improving operational accessibility and replacement ease while maintaining effective mercury capture
4Reliability
If a packed bed or fluidized bed structure is used with sorbent, then adequate contact between gaseous elemental mercury and sorbent is improved, but the complexity and expense of the contacting scheme increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer-coated sorbent particles are designed to self-regulate their interaction with the flue gas and liquid environment. The polymer coating automatically prevents water deactivation while allowing gas contact, and the particles naturally distribute themselves in the flow field, eliminating the need for complex external control systems or specialized bed structures
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
The polymer-protected sorbent effectively captures mercury and selenium species in both liquid and gas streams, reducing emissions and operational complexity, and can be easily replaced without modifying existing structures.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer-protected sorbent for capturing certain chemical species in liquid and gas streams... a polymer that covers at least a portion of the sorbent... The polymer permits the chemical species of interest to pass through the polymer to be captured by the sorbent
Implementation Method 2
Sorbents are sometimes used to remove certain pollutants from gas streams... solid sorbents such as activated carbon can be used to adsorb mercury in a gaseous phase... the sorbent particles capable of capturing the trace level chemical species
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a polymer-protected sorbent that is at least partially covered by, or in contact with, a polymer that acts to protect or shield the sorbent from the surrounding environment, such as a liquid or gas stream within which the sorbent is being used. The sorbent is a sorbent material made of sorbent particles and can be used to remove certain chemical species, such as trace level toxic species, from a given liquid or gas, such as a liquid or gas stream in an industrial process, such as wet flue gas desulfurization process or a wastewater treatment process.