Ammonia-based carbon dioxide abatement system and method, and direct contact cooler therefore

An ammonia-based carbon dioxide abatement system comprising:

• a direct contact cooler, comprising:
• a flue gas stream path extending from a flue gas inlet to a flue gas outlet;
• a first treatment section and a second treatment section disposed along the flue gas stream path;
• a chilled water outlet;
• and
• a wash water inlet and a wash water outlet,
• a carbon dioxide absorber disposed downstream of and fluidly coupled to the direct contact cooler, the carbon dioxide absorber having a flue gas inlet and a flue gas outlet;
• a water wash station fluidly coupled through a flue gas inlet to the carbon dioxide absorber and adapted to absorb ammonia slip from flue gas;
• and
• an ammonium carbonate separator fluidly coupled with the chilled water outlet and adapted to receive a side stream of ammonium-carbonates loaded water from the chilled water outlet of the direct contact cooler and to decompose ammonium carbonates into ammonia and carbon dioxide,
• wherein the carbon dioxide absorber is adapted to absorb gaseous carbon dioxide from flue gas entering the carbon dioxide absorber from the direct contact cooler via an ammonia-based solution to form an ammonia-based solution exiting the carbon dioxide absorber through a carbon dioxide outlet;
• wherein the first treatment section is arranged upstream of the second treatment section with respect to the flue gas stream path,
• wherein the wash water inlet is disposed between the first treatment section and the second treatment section, and
• wherein the wash water outlet is disposed upstream of the first treatment section.