Experimental investigation of a pilot-scale jet bubbling reactor for wet flue gas desulphurisation

In the present work, an experimental parameter study was conducted in a pilot-scale jet bubbling reactor for wet flue gas desulphurisation (FGD). The pilot plant is downscaled from a limestone-based, gypsum producing full-scale wet FGD plant. Important process parameters, such as slurry pH, inlet flue gas concentration of SO2, reactor temperature, and slurry concentration of Cl- have been varied. The degree of desulphurisation, residual limestone content of the gypsum, liquid phase concentrations, and solids content of the slurry were measured during the experimental series.

The SO2 removal efficiency increased from 66.1% to 71.5% when the reactor slurry pH was changed from 3.5 to 5.5. Addition of Cl(in the form of CaCl2 . 2H(2)O) to the slurry (25 g Cl-/l) increased the degree of desulphurisation to above 99%, due to the onset of extensive foaming, which substantially increased the gas-liquid contact area. An increase in the inlet flue gas SO2 concentration from 502 to 991 ppmv led to a decrease in the SO2 removal efficiency from 80.1% to 69.4%. A temperature increase from 296 to 323 K caused a reduction in the degree of desulphurisation from 69.4% to 68.1%, but this result is almost within the experimental uncertainty. The residual limestone level in the gypsum formed increased with increasing values of reactor slurry pH, inlet flue gas SO2 concentration, and slurry concentration of Cl-. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.