Collection scoop for flue gas desulfurization systems with bleed streams or ex situ forced oxidation

A system for removing sulfur oxides from flue gas, comprising:

• a wet flue gas desulfurization scrubber having a scrubbing zone for converting sulfur oxides into a scrubbing product;
• means for supplying a sulfur oxide absorbing liquid reagent to the scrubbing zone;
• an internal reaction tank, located below the scrubbing zone, for collecting partially reacted liquid reagent and scrubbing products from the scrubbing zone, the internal reaction tank having a tank liquid level;
• a scoop having a scoop outlet, the scoop extending at least partially across and above the tank liquid level and shaped to establish a scoop liquid level of partially reacted liquid reagent and scrubbing products within the scoop during operation;
• and
• a downcomer having a downcomer inlet and a downcomer outlet for flow therethrough, the downcomer inlet in fluid communication with and connected to the scoop outlet, the downcomer outlet located during operation within the internal reaction tank below the tank liquid level for continuously discharging partially reacted liquid reagent and scrubbing products from the scoop into the internal reaction tank.

A method of removing sulfur oxides from flue gas, comprising:

• providing a wet flue gas desulfurization scrubber having a scrubbing zone located above an internal reaction tank;
• contacting the flue gas in the scrubbing zone with a liquid reagent to convert the sulfur oxides into a scrubbing byproduct and produce an effluent slurry of liquid and solids containing partially reacted liquid reagent and scrubbing byproducts;
• collecting a first portion of the effluent slurry in the internal reaction tank, adding fresh liquid reagent to the effluent in the tank, and recirculating the first portion of the effluent slurry and fresh liquid reagent from the tank back to the scrubbing zone;
• and
• collecting a second portion of the effluent slurry between the tank and the scrubbing zone, discharging a first part of the second portion of the effluent slurry for treatment in an external forced oxidation tank, and discharging a second part of the second portion of the effluent slurry directly into the internal reaction tank.