Field Test Program for Long-Term Operation of a COHPAC System for Removing Mercury from Coal-Fired Flue Gas Page: 3 of 7
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ABSTRACT
With the Nation's coal-burning utilities facing the possibility of tighter controls on mercury
pollutants, the U.S. Department of Energy is funding projects that could offer power plant
operators better ways to reduce these emissions at much lower costs. Sorbent injection
technology represents one of the simplest and most mature approaches to controlling mercury
emissions from coal-fired boilers. It involves injecting a solid material such as powdered
activated carbon into the flue gas. The gas-phase mercury in the flue gas contacts the sorbent
and attaches to its surface. The sorbent with the mercury attached is then collected by the
existing particle control device along with the other solid material, primarily fly ash.
During 2001, ADA Environmental Solutions (ADA-ES) conducted a full-scale demonstration of
sorbent-based mercury control technology at the Alabama Power E.C. Gaston Station
(Wilsonville, Alabama). This unit burns a low-sulfur bituminous coal and uses a hot-side
electrostatic precipitator (ESP) in combination with a Compact Hybrid Particulate Collector
(COHPAC*) baghouse to collect fly ash. The majority of the fly ash is collected in the ESP with
the residual being collected in the COHPAC* baghouse. Activated carbon was injected between
the ESP and COHPAC* units to collect the mercury.
Short-term mercury removal levels in excess of 90% were achieved using the COHPAC* unit.
The test also showed that activated carbon was effective in removing both forms of mercury-
elemental and oxidized. However, a great deal of additional testing is required to further
characterize the capabilities and limitations of this technology relative to use with baghouse
systems such as COHPAC. It is important to determine performance over an extended period
of time to fully assess all operational parameters.
The project described in this report focuses on fully demonstrating sorbent injection technology
at a coal-fired power generating plant that is equipped with a COHPAC* system. The overall
objective is to evaluate the long-term effects of sorbent injection on mercury capture and
COHPAC* performance. The work is being done on one-half of the gas stream at Alabama
Power Company's Plant Gaston Unit 3 (nominally 135 MW). Data from the testing will be used
to determine:
1. If sorbent injection into a high air-to-cloth ratio baghouse is a viable, long-term approach
for mercury control; and
2. Design criteria and costs for new baghouse/sorbent injection systems that will use a
similar, polishing baghouse (TOXECONM) approach.DOE Report No. 41591R12
ii
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Bustard, Jean; Lindsey, Charles; Brignac, Paul; Starns, Travis; Sjostrom, Sharon & Larson, Cindy. Field Test Program for Long-Term Operation of a COHPAC System for Removing Mercury from Coal-Fired Flue Gas, report, July 14, 2005; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc873302/m1/3/: accessed April 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.