(118e) Application of a Fluid-Particle Mass Transfer Model for the Sorbent Injection Process for Mercury Emission Control during Coal Combustion

Control of mercury emissions from coal combustion processes has attracted great attention due to the toxic nature of mercury and the current and potential regulations. The most effective method for controlling these trace elemental mercury emissions is to employ activated carbon (AC) to adsorb mercury from the combustion flue gas. The control can be achieved either through AC injection followed by baghouse collection or through packed bed adsorption employing AC. In this study, a fluid-particle mass transfer simulation program was developed to simulate the AC injection process for mercury emission control during coal combustion. The developed program involved the coupling of a fluid-particle model based on mass transfer and surface equilibrium mechanisms and a dynamic-packing model for the baghouse material balance consideration. The developed program was used to simulate reported test results from a full-scale evaluation of AC-injection mercury control process available in the literature. The simulation results have indicated that the developed simulation program is capable of describing the observed results and providing insights into the mercury control process.