U.S. patent application number 10/747026 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for method of reducing air pollutant emissions from combustion facilities.
Invention is credited to Bae, Gwi-Nam, Jurng, Jongsoo, Lee, Gyo-Woo, Lee, Tai-Gyu.
Application Number | 20050108925 10/747026 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34587965 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050108925 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jurng, Jongsoo ; et
al. |
May 26, 2005 |
Method of reducing air pollutant emissions from combustion
facilities
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of reducing air
pollutant emissions such as dioxin or mercury from combustion
facilities including furnaces and electricity generation equipment.
More particularly, the invention relates to a method of reducing
the amount of air pollutants such as dioxin or mercury from
combustion facilities by inputting the precursor of nano-particles
such as titanium dioxide photo-catalyst or reactive potassium
iodide into the combustion facilities as a mixture with air or fuel
supply of the combustion facilities, thereby allowing
nano-particles to be synthesized during the combustion process and
such synthesized nano-particles to absorb, decompose and adhere the
air pollutants in the combustion facilities.
Inventors: |
Jurng, Jongsoo; (Seoul,
KR) ; Bae, Gwi-Nam; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee,
Gyo-Woo; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee, Tai-Gyu; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & MCAULIFFE LLP
275 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
MENLO PARK
CA
94025-3506
US
|
Family ID: |
34587965 |
Appl. No.: |
10/747026 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
44/457 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 53/70 20130101;
B01D 53/8662 20130101; C10L 10/02 20130101; B01D 53/34 20130101;
B01D 53/8665 20130101; B01D 53/86 20130101; B01D 53/64 20130101;
C10L 9/10 20130101; Y02A 50/20 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
044/457 |
International
Class: |
C10L 001/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 21, 2003 |
KR |
10-2003-0082987 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of reducing air pollutant emissions from combustion
facilities, wherein the air pollutant emissions from combustion
facilities or their precursors are removed by utilizing
nano-particles or their precursors.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nano-particles or
their precursors are inputted into an specific location of the
combustion facilities, wherein the specific location is the
location where said air pollutant emissions or their precursors are
generated.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the precursors of the
nano-particles are inputted into the combustion facilities and then
converted into nano-particles through in situ formation in the
combustion facilities during the combustion process.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the precursors of the
nano-particles are inputted into the combustion facilities in
conjunction with air or fuel supply for the combustion
facilities.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the precursors of the
nano-particles are inputted into the combustion facilities in the
state of gas or liquid.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the precursors of the
nano-particles are sprayed into a combustion chamber of said
combustion facilities.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nano-particles are
titanium dioxide photo-catalyst nano-particles or reactive
potassium iodide nono particles.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air pollutant
emissions are heavy metals which include mercury, cadmium, and
arsenic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of reducing air
pollutant emissions such as dioxin or mercury from combustion
facilities including furnaces and electricity generation equipment.
More particularly, the invention relates to a method of reducing
the amount of air pollutants such as dioxin or mercury from
combustion facilities by inputting the precursors of nano-particles
such as titanium dioxide photo-catalyst or reactive potassium
iodide into the combustion facilities as a mixture with air or fuel
supply of the combustion facilities, thereby allowing
nano-particles to be synthesized during the combustion process and
such synthesized nano-particles to decompose the air pollutants in
the combustion facilities.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The waste treatment methods that involve the processes of
crushing, burying and incinerating are generally well known in the
art. Among these, the method of incinerating waste materials is
most popularly utilized since it has the advantage of completely
eradicating the waste materials. However, the incineration of the
waste materials has a serious drawback of generating very toxic
pollutants such as dioxin and mercury.
[0005] Dioxin is a chemical compound which is composed of two
benzene rings which bind together with one or two oxygen atoms.
Especially the hydrogen atoms which bind with the carbon atoms of
the ring are replaced by chlorine atoms.
[0006] The creation mechanism of dioxin could be summarized in two
types. The first type involves a reaction of organic materials such
as chlorophenol or chlorobenzene which are known as precursors for
the creation of dioxin. The second type involves de novo synthesis
from inorganic carbon particles for the creation of dioxin.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,467 discloses a method of reducing total
emissions of dioxin by repressing the generation of dioxin. More
particularly, this patented invention discloses a method of
reducing total amount of dioxin emissions by introducing an
absorbent which is capable of repressing the generation of dioxin.
The absorbents introduced in the patented invention include
silicagel, activated carbon, chromosorb and zeolite. A maximum 51%
of dioxin emissions could be reduced according to the disclosure of
the patented invention. However, there is no disclosure in the
patented invention related to the method of employing any form of
nano-particles.
[0008] Korean patent publication No. 2003-0053233 also discloses a
method of reducing total emissions of dioxin by repressing the
generation of dioxin. More particularly, this patented invention
discloses a method of reducing total amount of dioxin emissions by
introducing a slag which is a by-product from steel manufacturing
process. Again, there is no disclosure in the patented invention
related to the method of employing any form of nano-particles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a method
of effectively reducing pollutant emissions from combustion
facilities.
[0010] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the
method of reducing pollutant emissions from combustion facilities
according to the present invention comprises the step of removing
the pollutants or their precursors from the combustion facilities
by utilizing nano-particles or their precursors.
[0011] According to the present invention, the nano-particles or
their precursors are inputted into the combustion facilities,
particularly to the exact location where the pollutants or their
precursors are generated.
[0012] According to the present invention, the precursors of the
nano-particles are inputted into the combustion facilities and are
converted into nano-particles through in situ formation during the
combustion processes.
[0013] According to the present invention, the precursors of the
nano-particles are inputted into the combustion facilities as a
mixture with the air or fuel supply of the combustion
facilities.
[0014] According to the present invention, the precursors of the
nano-particles are inputted into the combustion facilities in the
state of gas or liquid.
[0015] According to the present invention, the precursors of the
nano-particles are sprayed into the combustion chamber of the
combustion facilities.
[0016] According to the present invention, the precursors of the
nano-particles are either nano-particles of titanium dioxide
photo-catalyst or reactive potassium iodide.
[0017] According to the present invention, the pollutants are heavy
metals which include mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the process of
absorption and removal of pollutants by nano-particles.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a set of apparatus for carrying out one
preferred embodiment of the present invention for reducing air
pollutant emissions from combustion facilities.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a set of apparatus for mercury element removing
experiment by in situ formation of the nano-particles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERIC ON THE MAIN PARTS OF THE DRAWING
[0021] 1: nano-particle precursors inlet
[0022] 2: furnace fire gate
[0023] 3: waste inlet
[0024] 4: waste heat boiler
[0025] 5: combustion chamber
[0026] 6: ground ash outlet
[0027] 7: secondary combustion chamber
[0028] 8: potassium hydroxide
[0029] 9: acid gas washing apparatus
[0030] 10: back filter
[0031] 11: chimney
[0032] 20: oil bath
[0033] 30: Ti precursor
[0034] 40: pre-purified air
[0035] 50: temperature controller
[0036] 60: dry air
[0037] 70: high temperature reactor
[0038] 80: Hg
[0039] 90: sheath air
[0040] 100: UV lamp
[0041] 110: mercury photo-reactor
[0042] 120: filter
[0043] 130: on-line mercury analyzer
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0045] According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention for reducing air pollutant emissions such as dioxin or
mercury from combustion facilities, the decomposition of the
precursors of pollutants such as chlorophenol or chlorobenzene is
promoted through an absorption by the nano-particles that are
formed through in situ formation. Simultaneously, heavy metals such
as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic are adhered to the above
nano-particles.
[0046] According to the inventors of the present invention, it has
been discovered that air pollutant emissions from combustion
facilities could effectively be reduced by bring the precursor of
pollutants such as chlorophenol in contact with the nano-particles
and adhering chlorophenol to the nano-particles.
[0047] According to the present invention, the precursors of
pollutants such as chlorophenol and mercury elements are absorbed
or decomposed by the nano-particles, or adhered to the
nano-particles.
[0048] Also, the adhesion, decomposition or absorption of the
precursors such as chlorophenol is achieved by inputting the
nano-particles into the exact location where air pollutants or
their precursor are generated. The nano-particles are either
manufactured prior to input or more preferably, the nano-particles
manufactured through in situ formation. The precursors which form
nano-particles are inputted to the combustion facilities in the
state of gas or liquid and subsequently synthesized into
nano-particles. The input location is either through the air supply
section or the fuel supply section of the combustion
facilities.
[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the process of
absorption and removal of pollutants by nano-particles. Initially,
the pollutants exist in conjunction with the precursors of
nano-particles. When the precursors are converted to nano-particles
in the combustion chamber, the nano-particles absorb the
pollutants. The absorbed pollutants are decomposed or detoxicated
while the particles are growing.
[0050] The following is a detailed explanation through examples of
the invention. It should be understood, however, that the detailed
description and specific examples are given by way of illustration
only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and
scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art from this detailed description.
EXAMPLE 1
[0051] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing one preferred
embodiment of the present invention for reducing air pollutant
emissions from a combustion facility.
[0052] The combustion facility utilized in the preferred embodiment
of the present invention comprises a furnace fire gate (2), waste
inlet (3), waste heat boiler (4l), furnace combustion chamber (5),
acid gas washing apparatus (9), back filter (10), and chimney
(11).
[0053] The method of reducing air pollutants such as dioxin or
mercury from a combustion facility comprises the steps of forming
nano-particles in a secondary combustion chamber (7) at high
temperature by spraying the liquid phase or vapor phase precursors
of nano-particles into the secondary combustion chamber (7) via an
inlet (1); repressing the creation of pollutants such as dioxin or
mercury as such formed nano-particles are passing through the
emission gas processing equipment such as a waste heat boiler (4),
and acid gas washing apparatus (9); removing the pollutants through
promoting the oxidation decomposition reaction of the pollutants or
repressing the emission of pollutants such as dioxin or mercury
from a chimney (11) by absorbing and adhering the pollutants to the
nano-particles and separating the nano-particles using a back
filter after initially allowing them to grow. At the same time, the
present invention could suppress the dissolution of toxic materials
due to the scattered ashes discharged from a ground ash outlet (6)
under the legally permitted value by preventing the pollution by
secondary residues from incinerating equipments.
EXAMPLE 2
[0054] According to the present invention, the following experiment
was carried out in order to prove the effectiveness of In situ
formation of the nano-particles for removing pollutants.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows a set of apparatus for mercury element removing
experiment by in situ formation of the nano-particles. In the
experiment, a high temperature reactor (70) which consists of a
tube furnace and quartz reactor is utilized for removing mercury
through directly manufacturing the nano-particles from a titanium
precursor (30) (titanium isopropoxide). As for the titanium
precursor, 97% titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP),
(Ti[OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2].sub.4) is used.
[0056] A vaporized titanium precursor is transported to the high
temperature reactor (70) by passing Ar gases (pre-purified 99.99%)
(40) with a pre-controlled fixed flow rate through the container
for the precursors (30). The vaporized titanium precursor is
instantly oxidized to TiO.sub.2 in the high temperature reactor
(70) and as the temperature of the gas state TiO.sub.2 is lowered,
it starts to condense and becomes a solid state TiO.sub.2
nano-particles. More than 90% of the TiO.sub.2 nano-particles
created in this instant are anatase which possesses the property of
photo-catalyst due to the high temperature environment. Mercury
photo-reactor (110) is manufactured by quartz or boro silica which
is permeable to ultraviolet ray. An UV lamp (100) which is utilized
as an ultraviolet source is installed on the upper section of the
mercury photo-reactor (110). The liquid state mercury elements (80)
are vaporized to particle-less purified carrier gas (90) and is
transported to the mercury photo-reactor (110). The concentration
of the gas state mercury (80) is controlled by the variation in the
flow rate of the carrier gas. The variation of mercury
concentration at the inlet and outlet of the mercury photo-reactor
(110) is analyzed by an on-line mercury analyzer (130). Table 1
below shows the detailed results. As shown in Table 1, some of the
results show that the effectiveness of nano-particles by in situ
formation reaches to a 100% level. This shows the superior
effectiveness of the present invention.
1 TABLE 1 N.sub.2 flow Ar flow Total Oil Air flow rate rate flow UV
on UV off Removal Retention bath rate (TTIP) (Hg) rate conc. conc.
efficiency Time(s) (.degree. C.) (sL/mim) sCC/min sCC/min sL/min
(.mu.g/m.sup.3) (.mu.g/m.sup.3) (%) Furnace2 1 60 1.5 200 15 1.715
69 40 46 47 2 80 1.5 200 10 1.71 35 14 67 47 3 80 1.5 200 15 1.715
71 40 43 47 4 80 1.5 300 15 1.815 64 25 61 45 5 80 1.1 400 15 1.515
77 34 57 58 6 90 1.5 500 30 2.03 82 3 97 39 7 110 1.5 200 50 2.05
60 0 100 47 8 90 2 200 45 2.545 64 1 98.4 33
[0057] As explained in the detailed disclosure of the present
invention for reducing air pollutant from combustion facilities,
the method of utilizing nano-particles for removing pollutants such
as dioxin or mercury has a superior effectiveness which could
replace the present use of a large amount of charcoal or other
costly absorbents.
* * * * *