Barrier discharge conversion of Hg, SO.sub.2 and NOx
AssigneeZero Emissions Technology Inc.
InventorsFrancis R. Alix, S. Edward Neister, Christopher R. McLarnon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for reducing particulate, nitrogen oxides ("NOx"), sulfur dioxide ("SO.sub.2 "), and mercury ("Hg") emissions from the combustion exhaust of fossil fuel fired plants while producing an end product that is commercially useful, comprising the steps of oxidizing Hg, NOx and SO.sub.2 using a barrier, pulse, corona, or electron beam electrical discharge apparatus (100) to produce HgO and the acids HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 collecting the HgO, acids and particulates in a wet ESP (120), and separating the particulates from the collected acid mixture, then separating and concentrating the acids for industrial use.
Claims28
A process for removing particulate, Hg, NOx, and SO.sub.2 emissions from a flue gas stream and collecting the resulting acids for industrial use comprising the steps of
- a. oxidizing Hg, NOx and SOx in a flue gas stream using an electrical converting apparatus to HgO, HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 ;
- b. collecting particulate emissions, HgO, NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2, HNO.sub.3, and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP), forming a mixture;
- c. separating the particulate emissions and HgO from the mixture;
- and
- d. processing the mixture by separating HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 from each other and concentrating HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, and thereby removing particulate, Hg, NOx, and SO.sub.2 emissions from the flue gas stream and producing acids for industrial use.
An apparatus for removing particulate, Hg, NOx, and SO.sub.2 emissions from a flue gas stream and collecting the resulting acids for industrial use comprising
- a. an electrical converting apparatus installed within an electrostatic precipitator casing for converting Hg, NOx and SO.sub.2 to HgO, HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 ;
- b. a wet electrostatic precipitator having a collection hopper installed within the casing downstream of the electrical converting apparatus for collecting particulates, HgO, HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a mixture;
- c. a separating apparatus outside the casing hydraulically connected to the collection hopper for separating the particulates and HgO from the HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in the mixture;
- and
- d. a processing apparatus hydraulically connected to the separating apparatus for separating HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 from each other and concentrating HNO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, thereby removing particulate, Hg, NOx, and SO.sub.2 emissions from the flue gas stream and producing acids for industrial use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.