Photolytic method of improving mercury capture in fossil coal fired systems
AssigneeSiemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
InventorBruce Rising
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combustion-based system and related method includes a combustor for burning a combustible material, wherein an exhaust gas stream output by the combustor includes NO2 and at least one metal including mercury. An ultraviolet light source is in optical communication with the exhaust gas stream. Ultraviolet light from the light source photochemically dissociates at least a portion of the NO2 to form an NO2 reduced exhaust stream. A sorbent containing filter media receives the NO2 reduced exhaust stream and as a result of the reduction in NO2 provides improved trapping efficiency of mercury.
Claims17
A combustion-based system, comprising:
- a combustor for burning a combustible material, wherein an exhaust gas stream output by said combustor includes NO2 and at least one metal including mercury;
- at least one ultraviolet light source in optical communication with said exhaust gas stream, ultraviolet light from said light source photo-chemically dissociating at least a portion of said NO2 to form an NO2 reduced exhaust stream, and
- a sorbent containing filter media for receiving said NO2 reduced exhaust stream, said filter media trapping said at least one metal.
A method for reducing mercury emissions from combustion-based systems, comprising the steps of:
- irradiating an exhaust gas stream including mercury and NO2 with ultraviolet light, said light photo-chemically dissociating at least a portion of said NO2 to form an NO2 reduced gas stream, and
- contacting said NO2 reduced gas stream with a sorbent material, wherein said sorbent traps said mercury.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.