Controlling Multiple Emissions from Coal-fired Power Plants

摘要

Technologies capable of simultaneously controlling multiple pollutants of emissions from electric utility sources can be quite beneficial. Such technologies can provide options for meeting numerous regulatory requirements and, in some cases, represent the only practical method of providing the necessary environmental benefits. For example, in a constrained plant layout, application of a particular multipollutant control technology may be the only viable option. In addition, a multipollutant control system may be capable of operating with a lower energy requirement than a traditional one using a series of controls in succession, each targeting a different pollutant. This paper presents and analyzes nine existing and novel control technologies designed to achieve multipollutant emissions reductions. It provides an evaluation of multipollutant emission control technologies that are potentially available for coal-fired power plants of 25 megawatts (MW) capacity or larger in the United States. Some of these technologies are combinations of commercial technologies that are being used to control at least one pollutant while others are under development with the specific goal of controlling multiple pollutants. Issues related to cost, byproduct management, residue or waste disposal, and scaleup are currently being addressed to make these technologies more cost-effective and broadly applicable. The paper primarily addresses technologies that are capable of simultaneously controlling nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and mercury emissions from electric utility sources. Technologies that are capable of simultaneously controlling SO2 and mercury are also addressed because of high interest in controlling mercury emissions. The information provided for each technology includes: a brief technology description, the level of commercial readiness and industrial experience, and emission control performance. Three of the evaluated control technologies are capable of achieving simultaneous reductions of SO2,NO_x, and mercury and show potential to achieve above 80 % reductions of all three pollutants.