The combustion of fossil fuels produces particulate matter, SO2, NOx, mercury and other emissions that can be effectively controlled and mitigated by the application of flue gas desulfurization (FGD), NOx control equipment (including SCR), and mercury capture technologies. Thermal power plants must continually search for cost-effective methods to reduce stack emissions, not only to achieve compliance with increasingly stringent air pollution standards, but to maintain a competitive advantage over alternative ‘clean’ energy technologies.
Modern FGD systems must be designed to achieve compliance with current and future SO2 limits, and offer seamless integration with NOx control, mercury removal and future carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) systems. The selection of the optimal FGD technology for each facility is critical to ensuring the lowest plant lifecycle cost. Hatch has extensive experience with wet, dry and circulating dry scrubber systems, as well as newer desulphurization technologies. Our flue gas handling group has conducted numerous technology reviews for thermal power plants and can ensure the right match between equipment, the process and the client’s requirements.
Most thermal plants in the world are currently equipped with some form of NOx emission control, ranging from boiler modifications, such as the use of low NOx burners, to flue gas treatment processes, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Hatch has implemented NOx control solutions for decades, including the pioneering of innovative structural design techniques for SCR retrofit installations. Many of these technologies require a thorough understanding of the entire gas treatment train to ensure compatibility with the other gas cleaning equipment. Our flue gas handling group has the experience necessary to incorporate the most efficient removal technologies for each facility.
The removal of mercury contaminants from boiler flue-gas is increasingly becoming an important environmental issue, and should be part of the core strategic vision of every fossil fuel-fired facility. Hatch’s flue-gas handling group has studied and implemented mercury capture solutions for thermal power plants and other metallurgical facilities, and can assist our clients with incorporating these newer technologies without incurring the associated performance risks.
