So.sub.2 scrubbing system for flue gas desulfurization

Abstract

Sulfur dioxide is scrubbed from boiler flue gases in a double-loop alkali scrubber, one a quencher loop and the other an absorption loop. The reagent flow of the two loops is isolated so that none of the reagent from the quencher loop is cycled to the absorber loop and a portion of the make-up water for the quencher loop is received from the absorber loop. By controlling recycled water from a dewatering system and selective utilization of high and low solids streams from the absorber system, the quencher slurry concentration may be controlled and the requirement for new make-up water reduced. The two loop process isolates the main absorber system including the demisters, which are prone to scaling and corrosion, from the evaporative quencher portion of the process. All the recycled water is returned to the evaporative quencher loop and none to the loop controlling the demisters and the primary absorber sections. However, under varying SO.sub.2 feed rates, the recycled water to the quencher loop may be in excess or insufficient for the evaporative material balance of the quencher loop. To compensate for either imbalance, it is necessary to utilize a separator and flow control between the two loops to decrease or increase the water balance flow to the quencher loop while maintaining the absorber loop at the proper operating balance.