EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION AND MODELING OF A WET FLUE-GAS DESULFURIZATION PILOT-PLANT

A detailed model for a wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) pilot plant, based on the packed tower concept, has been developed. All important rate-determining steps, absorption of SO2, oxidation of HSO3-, dissolu tion of limestone, and crystallization of gypsum were included. Popula tion balance equations, governing the description of particle size dis tributions of limestone in the plant, were derived. Model predictions were compared to experimental data such as gas-phase concentration pro files of SO2, slurry pH profiles, solids content of the slurry, liquid -phase concentrations, and residual limestone in the gypsum. Simulatio ns were found to match experimental data for the two limestone types i nvestigated. a parameter study of the model was conducted with the pur pose of validating assumptions and extracting information on wet FGD s ystems. The modeling tools developed may be applicable to other wet FG D plants.