Flue-gas desulfurization in circulating fluidized beds: An empirical modelfrom an experimental pilot-plant study

Flue-gas desulfurization in a circulating fluidized-bed absorber (CFBA) is quite a novel technology that has significant potential advantages, in comp arison with other semidry desulfurization processes. A high desulfurization yield, a high sorbent utilization, low investment costs, and the fact that relatively little extra space is required are the most outstanding feature s of this technology. This paper shows the main results obtained in a 3-MWe equivalent pilot plant specifically designed and constructed to assess the performance of a flue gas cleaning system composed of a CFBA unit and an e lectrostatic precipitator. The results of an experimental program were used to determine the parameters of a semiempirical model that correlates the S O2 removal efficiency to the main operating variables. The model, based on the number of overall mass-transfer units, shows a coefficient of determina tion (R-2) close to 0.9, indicating a good correlation between the measured and calculated efficiency values.