The COBRA process - combined SO{sub x} and NO{sub x} control in low emissions boiler systems

Conference · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:490347

Litka, A F; Breault, R W; McClaine, A W ^[1]; Hyre, M ^[2]

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1. Thermo Power Corp., Waltham, MA (United States)
2. LeTourneau Univ., Longview, TX (United States)

Copper oxide is one of several metal oxides which exhibit flue gas desulfurization capability; a key advantage of copper oxide is that both adsorption and regeneration take place at similar temperatures and that this temperature ({approximately}700 F) places the process in an ideal location at the exit of the boiler economizer. In the COBRA (Copper Oxide Bed Regenerative Adsorber) Process sulfur laden flue gas is contacted with copper oxide impregnated alumina oxide substrate in a moving bed reactor. In the moving bed the flue gas, in crossflow, contacts the downward moving sorbent forming copper sulfate. Vertical retention screens are used to physically contain the sorbent in the bed, but let gas flow horizontally through the bed of packed spheres. The sulfated sorbent is transported from the bottom of the moving bed reactors to the regenerator vessels without the need for additional heating or cooling. In the regenerators, methane or another reducing agent is used to reduce the copper sulfate to copper and SO{sub 2}. The concentrated SO{sub 2} stream resulting from regeneration may be oxidized to SO{sub 3} and condensed to sulfuric acid, or it can be converted to elemental sulfur in a Claus Plant or scrubbed with ammonia to form an ammonium sulfate. This flexibility allows the FGD byproduct to be directed toward strategic markets.

• OSTI ID: 490347
• Report Number(s): CONF-970310--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COAL
COMBINED SOXNOX PROCESSES
COMBUSTION
COPPER OXIDES
DESULFURIZATION
FLUE GAS
GAS FLOW
NITROGEN OXIDES
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SULFUR DIOXIDE