Feasibility of Producing and Marketing Byproduct Gypsum from SO2Emission Control at Fossil-Fuel-Fired Power Plants.

摘要

The report gives results of a study to identify fossil-fuel-fired power plants that might,in competition with existing crude gypsum sources and other power plants,lower the cost of compliance with SO2regulations by producing and marketing abatement gypsum. In the Eastern U.S.,gypsum production has a limited but important potential to lower the cost of compliance by power plants. Gypsum consumption was projected as 2million tons in wallboard use and 3million tons in cement,and total 1978sales were estimated at $124.4million in the Eastern U.S. Potential gypsum production by 113Eastern U.S. steam plants requiring flue gas desulfurization for compliance amounts to 27million tons. For about 90% of the potential abatement gypsum production,the cost difference between producing gypsum and conventional sulfite sludge by limestone scrubbing is greater than the estimated cost of mining natural gypsum. However, 30power plants (generally <200MW) with small annual outputs were identified that could reduce compliance cost by producing and marketing abatement gypsum. The 30plants would replace 2.23million tons of crude gypsum at 93demand points (92cement plants and 1wallboard plant). Of the gypsum replaced, 74% is imported. First-year saving to steam plants is $11million,and about $2million is saved by the gypsum industry.