Repair or Replace-What to do with a 20-Year Old Scrubber: East Kentucky Power Cooperative's Spurlock Unit 2 WFGD Retrofit

摘要

East Kentucky Power Cooperative's (EKPC) Spurlock Unit 2 (525 MW) is presently equipped with a lime-based, wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system that was initially placed into service in the early 1980's. The Unit 2 WFGD system was decommissioned shortly after start-up when it was determined that environmental compliance could be achieved more economically by fuel switching. Recently, EKPC decided to reduce SO{sub}2 emissions from Spurlock Unit 2. EKPC conducted an extensive evaluation of options that included: Refurbishment of the existing system, Converting the existing system to forced-oxidation limestone/gypsum operation, and Replacing the existing WFGD system with a state-of-the-art forced-oxidation limestone system. The following paper summarizes the economic evaluation and decisions that led to the decision to replace the existing WFGD system with a new, single absorber limestone-based system utilizing ALSTOM's open spray tower technology. Key design features of the new WFGD system are also discussed.