Reducing mercury emissions from the burning of coal by remote sorbent addition
AssigneeNOx II, Ltd.
InventorDouglas C. Comrie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sorbent components containing halogen, calcium, alumina, and silica are used in combination during coal combustion to produce environmental benefits. Sorbents such as calcium bromide are added to the coal ahead of combustion and other components are added into the flame or downstream of the flame, preferably at minimum temperatures to assure complete formation of the refractory structures that result in various advantages of the methods. When used together, the components reduce emissions of elemental and oxidized mercury; increase the level of Hg, As, Pb, and/or Cl in the coal ash; decrease the levels of leachable heavy metals (such as Hg) in the ash, preferably to levels below the detectable limits; and make a highly cementitious ash product.
Claims23
A method of preparing coal for a coal burning facility to reduce emissions of mercury or other harmful components arising from combustion of coal in a furnace of the facility, comprising:
- applying a sorbent composition comprising a halogen salt selected from bromine or iodine and water to coal at a first facility that is a coal producer or processor to form a treated coal having the applied sorbent composition to be transported via rail car from the first facility to the coal burning facility, wherein the treated coal is delivered to and combusted in the furnace at the coal burning facility to make energy, combustion gas, and ash, and the treated coal reduces an amount of mercury in the combustion gas as compared to mercury present in a combustion gas when coal is combusted without the applied sorbent composition.
A method of preparing coal for a coal burning facility to reduce emissions of mercury or other harmful components arising from combustion of coal in a furnace of the facility, comprising:
- applying a sorbent composition to coal at a first facility to form a treated coal having the applied sorbent composition to be transported from the first facility to the coal burning facility, wherein the sorbent composition comprises a halogen selected from bromine or iodine and an aluminosilicate material and the treated coal is delivered to and combusted in the furnace at the coal burning facility to make energy, combustion gas, and ash, and the treated coal reduces an amount of mercury in the combustion gas as compared to mercury present in a combustion gas when coal is combusted without the applied sorbent composition.
A method of preparing coal for a coal burning facility to reduce emissions of mercury or other harmful components arising from combustion of coal in a furnace of the facility, comprising:
- applying a sorbent composition to coal at a first facility to form a treated coal having the applied sorbent composition, wherein the sorbent composition comprises a halogen selected from bromine or iodine and an aluminosilicate material;
- transporting the treated coal from the first facility to the coal burning facility where the treated coal is delivered to and combusted in the furnace at the coal burning facility to make energy, combustion gas, and ash, wherein the treated coal reduces an amount of mercury in the combustion gas and acid leachable mercury in the ash as compared to mercury present in a combustion gas and acid leachable mercury in the ash when coal is combusted without the applied sorbent composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.