DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION

FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER

FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

FOREWORD
When coal is oxidized (burned) as fuel, the elemental sulfur it contains is converted to SO2.
Some of this SO2 is converted to SO3 when oxygen leftover from the combustion process causes
further oxidization in the boiler. A system equipped with a selective catalytic reducer (SCR) to
reduce NOX emissions will convert additional SO2 to SO3. When SOX combines with moisture in flue
gas, vapor-phase sulfuric acid is formed.1
The presence of sulfuric acid in flue gas escaping into the atmosphere can form a visible
plume and particulate emissions from the stack, corrode ducts, and damage downstream
equipment.1 SOX emissions are also known for their detrimental effects on human health and the
environment, as they may cause smog, acid rain, and ozone depletion. Increased awareness of
these problems has led to more legislation and increasingly tighter standards to regulate these
harmful emissions.2 The use of high-sulfur coal, while more economical, exacerbates these issues
and requires more stringent emissions controls.1
This paper describes a controlled method of mitigating SO2 and SO3 emissions by injecting
powdered hydrated lime sorbent directly into a utility’s ductwork, typically between the air heater and
particulate control device. Pilot scale testing has shown that hydrated lime reacts with SOX in flue
gas to form synthetic gypsum, which is collected along with fly ash by the particulate control device.1
This byproduct can be sold to gypsum wallboard plants worldwide.

EXAMPLE OF EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WITH DRY SORBENT INJECTION

STACK

BOILER ECONOMIZER DRY SORBENT INJECTION

BOILER
TUBES SCRUBBER
PARTICULATE
AIR CONTROL
NOx HEATER DEVICE
SOx
SOx
Hg
MERCURY WET
SCR ESP TOWER
BAG HOUSE SO2
AMMONIA ETC.

FOSSIL
FUEL
FLY ASH

LIMESTONE SLURRY

DRY HYDRATED LIME SORBENT INJECTION OPERATING COST IMPACTS1

Capital Equipment Requirements Storage silos; Pneumatic conveying system*
Byproducts Synthetic gypsum; Excess hydrated lime; Fly ash
Boiler Efficiency Impacts None
SO2 Allowance Impacts None
NOX Removal Impacts None
*See “Typical System Components” on page 3 for more information.

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 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

DRY HYDRATED LIME SORBENT INJECTION SYSTEM – TECHNICAL SUMMARY

A. TYPICAL SYSTEM CONCEPT FOR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Nol-Tec Systems, Inc. designs and supplies systems that continuously transfer dry bulk
hydrated lime from storage silos to injection ports on boiler flue gas ducts. Although system
configurations vary with each application, a typical process includes four to six storage silos
designed to hold five to ten days’ worth of hydrated lime.
A fluidizing bin bottom is installed on each silo to prevent the stored hydrated lime from rat
holing, bridging or arching. An air-activated butterfly valve is mounted below each fluidizing silo
cone bottom, and an air-activated silo discharge system is located below each butterfly valve to
serve as a refill device for the continuous loss-in-weight (LIW) feeder situated under each silo. The
material is not exposed to any moving parts throughout the entire silo and silo discharge system,
except for the butterfly valves used in refilling the LIW feeders.
The LIW feeders are designed to handle a continuous flow of hydrated lime. This example
uses a nominal material feed rate of 4,000 lb/hr per duct. Each feeder is capable of holding a
minimum of 45 ft3 of material, which minimizes the number of refills per hour. Minimizing the number
of refills, in turn, maximizes the amount of time the feeders spend in gravimetric (LIW control) mode.
Each feeder hopper is mounted on three load cells linked to the control system. Because three
points define a plane, the load cells’ signals are not corner-to-corner tuned, which makes the units
easy to calibrate. A rotary valve operated by a variable frequency drive linked to the control system
is mounted at the hopper discharge and serves as the material metering device. This valve
discharges material through a small, vented chute directly into a blow-through rotary airlock running
at a constant speed. The blow-through rotary airlock is the primary seal between the metering
system and the pneumatic conveying line; the metering rotary valve is the secondary seal. Each
feeder hopper is equipped with its own reverse jet pulse dust filter system, which traps nuisance
dust generated during feeder refill and returns it to the process. The dust filter also facilitates air
displacement in the hopper as material is metered out or replenished, as well as air leakage from the
blow-through rotary airlock.
Dilute phase, positive pressure pneumatic conveying technology is used to transfer and
inject metered hydrated lime throughout the system, and every precaution is taken to assure that the
conveying lines do not become plugged with material. Each line is equipped with a dedicated
positive displacement blower. These blower packages are connected to a common air dryer to
ensure that the air used to convey material remains dry. As any variation in a blower’s steady state
operation could signal the need for conveying line maintenance, flow meters and variable frequency
drive controls can be added to the blower packages. The conveying lines may be insulated to
prevent condensation, and blowout ports can be provided to help locate and manage any issue that
may arise.
The conveying lines terminate at convey line splitters that distribute hydrated lime to the duct
injection lances. The line splitters are vertically oriented to achieve the best distribution possible.
Nol-Tec Systems, Inc. has developed a method to analyze the status of each injection lance.
Should a blockage occur, the injection lance is automatically purged.
Nol-Tec Systems, Inc. will supply control of all system components and provide more details
about the control system in its engineering package.

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 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

B. TYPICAL DESIGN CRITERIA

Product: Hydrated lime or any dry bulk sorbent material
Bulk Density: 25-50 lb/ft3
Particle Size: 325 Mesh
Moisture: <1%
Temperature: Ambient
Abrasiveness: Mild
System Capacity: As required based on plant’s flue gas flow rate
Convey Lines: As required based on number of flue gas ducts

C. TYPICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS

*Refer to process flow diagram on page 4 for corresponding numbers.

1. Bulk truck unload line 21. Blower packages a. Main PLC control panel
components
22. In-line thermal b. HMI workstation for system
2. Silo end receivers mass flow meters control room
3. Guided radar continuous 23. Air line components from c. Remote I/O panels for
level indicators dryers and blowers to injection area
rotary airlocks
4. Point level indicators d. Truck unloading operator
24. Conveying line components panel
5. Dust collectors
25. Blowout ports e. Motor control center
6. Exhausters
26. Knifegates with manual
7. Sign for delivery instructions
handwheel
8. Storage silos
27. Ball valves
9. Fluidizing bin bottoms
28. Convey line distribution
10. Maintenance gates splitter assemblies
11. Air-activated silo discharge 29. Knifegates with manual
systems handwheel
12. Gravity flexible connectors 30. Pressure transducers
13. Single cartridge dust filters 31. Air-operated pinch valves
14. Load cell systems 32. Conveying line components
from distribution splitters to
15. Emergency high level injection lances
indicators
33. Solenoid valves for
16. Emergency low level injection lance cleaning
indicators
34. Injection lances
17. Loss-in-weight feeders
35. Rotary screw compressors
18. Vent adapters
36. Compressed air dryer
19. Airlock packages packages
20. Air drying systems 37. Electrical Controls:

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

Silos

Silo Bin Vent

Truck Fill Line

Screeners

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

Modular
Control
Room

PD Blower Package

Desiccant Dryers

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)
Refill System

Silo Aeration Loss-In-Weight Feeder

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

Splitter to Injection Ports

Convey Lines from

L-I-W to Splitters

Duct
Injection
Port
Splitter Detail

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

Sample
HMI
Control
Screen

Sample Control Architecture

Ethernet Communications Network (for plant monitoring)

ControlNet
Cabling For ControlNet Communications Network (expandable for future additions)
16 Taps >750 Meters
Node #01 Node #02 Node #03 Node #04 Node #05

Mettler- Toledo Mettler- Toledo Allen-Br adley Rotary Air lock for
Weigh Hopper Scale Weigh Hopper Scale Weigh Hopper Discharge
(1Ch.) (1Ch.) Pow erFlex 70 VFDs

Hydrated Lime Control System

Control Panel 17 Slot Rack
1 - 1756-L61 (2 M)
1- 1756- CNB/E
AB ControlLogix 5K Communication Layout
4- 1756- IAD (120VAC Input) Includes necessary I/O cards and programming
3- 1756- OAD (120VAC Output)
1- 1756- IF6I (6 Channel Isolated Input) for Hydrated Lime Injection System
1- 1756- OF6CI (6 Channel Isolated Output)
1- Acopian PS 24VDC
1- Hoffman Enclosure Hydrated Lime Control System Motors
Double Door w / 100 A mp Disconnect Pow er Required: 3 Phase 460 VAC 100 A mp by Others
A84XM7824FTC IEC starters location in Main Control Panel
1- E-Stop /w Reset & Stop PB 1- Silo Exhauster Fan 3 HP [FV R]
1- Sola Transformer .5 KVA 2- Weigh Hopper Discharge RAL1/2 HP [VFD] Pow erFlex 70
1- Solo/Hevi-Duty UPS Backup for 2- Blow -Thru RAL 1 HP [FV NR]
PLC/Panelview /Weigh Scales 2- Pressure Blow er 10 HP [FVNR]

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5.156.SALE.02.05.09.02
 DRY HYDRATED LIME INJECTION
FOR COAL-FIRED BOILER
FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Jerry VanDerWerff Nol-Tec Systems, Inc. +1 (651) 780-8600 x206 office

National Sales Manager 425 Apollo Drive +1 (651) 303-4056 mobile
TM
Sorb-N-Ject Technology Lino Lakes, MN 55014 +1 (651) 780-4400 fax
JerryVanDerWerff@nol-tec.com USA

Paper prepared by Ben D’Alessio – Nol-Tec Systems, Inc., North Carolina office

With thanks to Mr. Bryan Williams – System Engineer-Chemical, Fossil Fuel Division of the Tennessee Valley Authority

REFERENCES
1. Gary M. Blythe, Richard G. Rhudy, Bill Aljoe, “Economic Comparison of SO3 Control Options for Coal-Fired
Power Plants,” white paper, November 25, 2003.

2. R. K. Srivastava and W. Jozewicz, “Flue Gas Desulfurization: The State of the Art,” Journal of the Air &
Waste Management Association, vol. 51, p. 1676-1688, December 2001.

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