Plasma based trace metal removal apparatus and method
AssigneeContinental Research & Engineering, LLC
InventorChristopher A. Herbst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for the removal of metals such as mercury from a gas stream. The method involves contacting a gas stream containing the target metals with reactive chemical species generated in a plasma device. The metal to be removed is chemically converted into forms enabling capture in either conventional particulate removal devices or in a wet scrubber for the capture of a soluble chemical species.
Claims19
A method for the removal of contaminants from a gas stream comprising the steps of:
- providing an annular array of non-thermal plasma generation devices disposed in a conduit;
- providing a source of plasma gas in fluid communication with the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device;
- creating an activated species within the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device;
- discharging the activated species into a gas stream containing at least one contaminant, whereby the activated species reacts with the at least one contaminant to form at least one reactant compound;
- providing a removal device in the conduit downstream of the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device;
- and
- removing the at least one reactant compound from the gas stream with the removal device.
A method for the removal of contaminants from a flue gas stream comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one non-thermal plasma generation device in a conduit, wherein the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device provided is disposed in the conduit at an angle in respect of a flow direction of the gas stream;
- providing a source of plasma gas in fluid communication with the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device;
- creating an activated species within the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device;
- discharging the activated species into a flue gas stream containing at least one contaminant including at least one of a volatile metal and a semi-volatile metal, whereby the activated species reacts with the at least one contaminant to form at least one reactant compound;
- providing one of a particulate species type removal device and a soluble species type removal device in the conduit downstream of the at least one non-thermal plasma generation device;
- and
- removing the at least one reactant compound from the gas stream with the one of the particulate species type removal device and the soluble species type removal device.
A method for the removal of contaminants from a flue gas stream comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of non-thermal plasma generation devices radially and circumferentially in a conduit;
- providing a source of plasma gas in fluid communication with the plasma devices;
- creating an activated species within the plasma devices;
- discharging the activated species into a flue gas stream containing at least one contaminant including at least mercury, whereby the activated species reacts with the at least one contaminant to form at least one reactant compound;
- providing one of an electrostatic precipitator and a wet scrubber in the conduit downstream of the plasma devices;
- and
- removing the at least one reactant compound from the gas stream with the one of the electrostatic precipitator and the wet scrubber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.