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U.S. Department of Energy
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Studies of flue gas desulfurization at Lousiville Gas and Electric's Paddy's Run Station: Volume II. Review and analysis of commercial operations. Final report Mar 75-Feb 1978

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6439501

The report gives results of tests to determine the technical factors accounting for the success of the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system at Louisville Gas and Electric Co.'s Paddy's Run Unit 6. (Between its start-up in the Spring of 1973 and the Fall of 1976, the Unit 6 FGD system logged almost 4000 hours of operation without any major process or mechanical problem.) Test results indicate that carbide lime (a waste by-product of acetylene manufacture using calcium carbide), used at Unit 6, contains oxidation inhibitors that prevent gypsum scaling in the FGD scrubber. Commercial lime testing without these inhibitors resulted in gypsum scaling. However, adding magnesium (3000 ppm in the slurry liquor) reduced sulfite dissolution in the scrubber, thereby reducing sulfite oxidation and allowing scale-free operation. Increasing the chloride level increased sulfite oxidation; an increase in magnesium addition offset the effects of higher chloride levels. Lime systems can be operated successfully with low reaction tank residence times because of the rapid dissolution of lime. The size of the reaction tank and the lime addition point affect the crystal structure of the scrubber waste solids.

Research Organization:
Radian Corp., Austin, TX (USA)
OSTI ID:
6439501
Report Number(s):
PB-82-237389
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English