Sugar Beet Lime Sorbent for Coal Sulfur Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The burning of high sulfur coal releases significant sulfur-containing gases, leading to acid rain and environmental harm, and existing sulfur capture technologies like wet scrubbers are costly and inefficient, necessitating a more effective and cost-friendly method for sulfur removal.
Innovation Solution
A sorbent composition comprising sugar beet lime is added to coal before combustion, either directly into the furnace or into the flue gases downstream, utilizing its high calcium content for efficient sulfur capture, with the addition rate adjusted based on sulfur emissions to maintain desired levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If wet scrubbers are used for sulfur capture, then sulfur emissions are reduced, but operating cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive sorbent materials (such as calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, or calcium hydroxide) that are added directly to the combustion chamber or flue gas stream. These sorbents are consumed during the sulfur capture process and do not require expensive equipment like wet scrubbers, thereby reducing operating costs while maintaining effective sulfur emission control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sulfur capture function from the combustion process itself by adding sorbent materials that react with sulfur dioxide in the flue gas. This separates the sulfur removal function from the need for large-scale wet scrubbing systems, allowing for a more cost-effective approach that targets only the sulfur removal aspect.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If sorbent is added to coal before combustion, then sulfur capture efficiency improves, but ash production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the calcium-to-sulfur ratio in the sorbent material to achieve effective sulfur capture while minimizing excess sorbent that would end up as ash. By carefully controlling the amount and composition of the sorbent added, the process maximizes sulfur removal efficiency while reducing the quantity of residual ash produced.
3Productivity
If high sulfur coal is burned to meet energy needs, then energy production is maintained, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful sulfur content in high-sulfur coal into a beneficial outcome by using the sulfur itself as the target for sorbent reaction. The sulfur that would otherwise be emitted as pollution is captured and converted into stable compounds (such as calcium sulfate) that can be disposed of or potentially utilized, thereby allowing continued use of high-sulfur coal resources while eliminating environmental harm.
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 effectively reduces sulfur emissions from coal combustion, avoiding excess ash production and providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional sulfur capture methods, allowing for the utilization of high sulfur coal resources while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
sorbent compositions are added to coal to capture sulfur in the ash and prevent release of sulfur oxides into the atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
The relatively high calcium content of the sugar beet lime leads to efficient sulfur capture
Data Source
AI summary
Sulfur emissions from combustion of coal and other fuels are reduced by using sugar beet lime as a sorbent during the coal burning process. In various embodiments, the sugar beet lime is added onto the coal before combustion, along with the coal into the furnace, is injected directly into the fire coal, or is added into the flue gases downstream of the furnace. The relatively high calcium content of the sugar beet lime leads to efficient sulfur capture at suitably low treat levels. Excess ash is avoided in the process.