Solvent Injection for Gas Turbine Emissions Reduction
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for reducing emissions in gas turbines, boiler systems, and refineries are less effective during startup or transient operations due to reduced catalyst effectiveness and increased additive requirements, posing environmental and health hazards.
Innovation Solution
A system that disperses a solvent in an exhaust plenum to absorb undesirable emissions, with a collection tank and heat source to enhance absorption and recirculation, eliminating the need for additives and catalytic reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additives such as ammonia or ozone are mixed with exhaust gases to remove undesirable emissions, then emissions reduction effectiveness is improved during normal operations, but the system complexity and additive consumption increase during startup or transient operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the emissions reduction function from the complex catalytic conversion system and implements it through a simple solvent absorption mechanism. The solvent is introduced directly into the exhaust plenum to absorb harmful emissions through physical absorption, eliminating the need for complex catalyst systems and multiple additives, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining effectiveness during startup and transient operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanism from catalytic conversion (requiring high temperature and specific catalysts) to physical absorption (effective at lower temperatures). By introducing a solvent that absorbs emissions through mass transfer, the system achieves emissions reduction without requiring the temperature conditions necessary for catalytic activity, thus simplifying the system and improving reliability during transient operations
2Reliability
If larger amounts of additives are used during startup or transient operations, then emissions reduction capability is improved, but the cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a solvent that can be continuously circulated and regenerated, replacing the need for large quantities of consumable additives like ammonia or ozone. The solvent system maintains effectiveness throughout operation without requiring frequent replenishment, reducing both material consumption and operational complexity during startup and transient phases
3Reliability
If catalytic conversion is used to remove emissions, then emissions reduction is achieved during normal operations, but catalyst effectiveness decreases during startup or transient operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal-catalytic mechanism with a physical absorption mechanism. Instead of relying on catalysts that require elevated temperatures for effectiveness, the system uses a solvent that absorbs emissions through mass transfer, which is effective at lower temperatures. This substitution eliminates the temperature dependency problem and maintains emissions reduction effectiveness during startup and transient operations when exhaust temperatures are low
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
Effectively reduces emissions during startup conditions by restoring thermal driving head and enhancing absorption of pollutants, reducing the consumption of solvents and maintaining compliance with emissions limits across various operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A system that disperses a solvent in an exhaust plenum to absorb undesirable emissions
Implementation Method 2
a heat source is in the exhaust plenum downstream from the means for dispersing the solvent in the exhaust plenum
Data Source
AI summary
A system for reducing emissions includes a gas production source that produces nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, formaldehyde, benzene, metal oxides, or volatile organic compound emissions. An exhaust plenum is downstream from the gas production source, and structure for dispersing a solvent is in the exhaust plenum. A collection tank is in fluid communication with the exhaust plenum to receive the solvent from the exhaust plenum, and a heat source is in the exhaust plenum downstream from the structure for dispersing the solvent. A method for reducing emissions from a gas production source includes flowing exhaust gases through an exhaust plenum, dispersing a solvent through a nozzle in the exhaust plenum, collecting the dispersed solvent in a collection tank, and heating the exhaust gases flowing through the exhaust plenum downstream from the nozzle.