U.S. patent application number 16/612254 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-20 for system and method for removing harmful gas in discharged cleaning solution of exhaust gas treatment apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is PANASIA CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Seong-Jae Chin, Soo-Tae Lee, Su-Kyu Lee, In-Hyeok Song, Jae-Bong Sung, Keun-Jae Yook.
Application Number | 20210146297 16/612254 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005564999 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-20 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210146297 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Soo-Tae ; et
al. |
May 20, 2021 |
System and Method for Removing Harmful Gas in Discharged Cleaning
Solution of Exhaust Gas Treatment Apparatus
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for
removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus and, more particularly, to a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which are
capable of adjusting the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in a
noxious gas removal unit, which removes noxious gas remaining in a
gaseous state in the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus and discharges the cleaning liquid from
which the noxious gas in the gaseous state has been removed, on the
basis of a result of measurement of the level of the cleaning
liquid in the noxious gas removal unit.
Inventors: |
Lee; Soo-Tae; (Busan,
KR) ; Lee; Su-Kyu; (Busan, KR) ; Yook;
Keun-Jae; (Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Chin;
Seong-Jae; (Busan, KR) ; Song; In-Hyeok;
(Busan, KR) ; Sung; Jae-Bong; (Busan, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PANASIA CO., LTD |
Busan |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005564999 |
Appl. No.: |
16/612254 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
May 10, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2018/005393 |
371 Date: |
November 8, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 2900/1812 20130101;
B01D 53/501 20130101; B01D 2252/1035 20130101; B01D 53/75 20130101;
B01D 53/1481 20130101; F01N 2610/146 20130101; B01D 47/06 20130101;
B01D 53/96 20130101; B01D 53/1412 20130101; B01D 53/185 20130101;
B01D 53/78 20130101; F01N 3/208 20130101; B01F 7/0025 20130101;
F01N 2900/1814 20130101; B01D 53/1493 20130101; B01D 53/1406
20130101; B01D 53/1425 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B01D 53/14 20060101
B01D053/14; B01D 53/78 20060101 B01D053/78; B01D 53/18 20060101
B01D053/18; B01D 53/96 20060101 B01D053/96; B01D 53/50 20060101
B01D053/50; B01D 53/75 20060101 B01D053/75; B01D 47/06 20060101
B01D047/06; B01F 7/00 20060101 B01F007/00; F01N 3/20 20060101
F01N003/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 18, 2017 |
KR |
10-2017-0061746 |
Claims
1. A system for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, comprising: an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus configured to receive exhaust gas
generated by the combustion and flowing thereinto, remove noxious
gas from the exhaust gas by spraying cleaning liquid to the exhaust
gas, and discharge the sprayed cleaning liquid; a noxious gas
removal unit connected to the exhaust gas treatment apparatus and
configured to remove the noxious gas remaining in a gaseous state
in the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus and discharge the cleaning liquid from which the noxious
gas in the gaseous state has been removed; a level measuring unit
configured to measure a level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious
gas removal unit; and a flow rate regulator configured to adjust a
discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal
unit on the basis of a result of measurement by the level measuring
unit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the level measuring unit measures
the level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit on
the basis of pressure in the noxious gas removal unit.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow rate regulator adjusts
the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid such that the level of
the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit falls within a
predetermined range.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the noxious gas removal unit
comprises a conduit having one end leading to a cleaning liquid
outlet of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus and an opposite end
connected to the flow rate regulator.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a level determiner
configured to determine whether or not the level of the cleaning
liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is
to move to the noxious gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined
threshold level.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a countermeasure unit
configured to, if the level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is to move to the noxious
gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold level as a
result of a determination by the level determiner, perform at least
one of generation of a danger warning and control so as to stop
spraying of the cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the level determiner is disposed
to lead to a cleaning liquid outlet of the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system for removing noxious
gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus is installed in a ship.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the noxious gas is sulfur oxides
(SOx), and the cleaning liquid is seawater or fresh water
containing alkaline additives.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus comprises: a preprocessor configured to primarily reduce
harmful substances in the exhaust gas produced by combustion; and a
postprocessor configured to further remove harmful substances from
preprocessed gas, which is the exhaust gas from which the harmful
substances have been primarily reduced by the preprocessor, and
connected to the noxious gas removal unit, and wherein the
preprocessor comprises: a preprocessor housing having an exhaust
gas inlet through which the exhaust gas is introduced and a
preprocessed gas outlet through which the preprocessed gas, which
is the exhaust gas from which the harmful substances have been
primarily reduced by the preprocessor, is discharged and forming a
flow path of the exhaust gas therein; an agitator configured to
cause the exhaust gas in the flow path to flow in a curved pattern;
a first preprocessor sprayer disposed between the exhaust gas inlet
and the agitator and configured to spray cleaning liquid to the
exhaust gas introduced through the exhaust gas inlet; and a second
preprocessor sprayer disposed between the agitator and the
preprocessed gas outlet and configured to spray cleaning liquid to
the exhaust gas that flows in a curved pattern through the agitator
in the flow path.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the postprocessor comprises: a
postprocessor housing having a preprocessed gas inlet through which
the preprocessed gas is introduced and a postprocessed gas outlet
through which postprocessed gas from which harmful substances have
been removed by the postprocessor is discharged and forming a flow
path of the preprocessed gas therein; and a droplet blocker
configured to block droplets that rise along an inner wall of the
postprocessor housing and are discharged through the postprocessed
gas outlet.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the postprocessor further
comprises: a first postprocessor sprayer disposed in the flow path
of the preprocessed gas below the drop blocker and configured to
spray cleaning liquid to the preprocessed gas; and a second
postprocessor sprayer disposed in the flow path of the preprocessed
gas below the drop blocker and configured to spray cleaning liquid
to the preprocessed gas and operate independently from the first
postprocessor sprayer.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the postprocessor further
comprises: a packing disposed under the first postprocessor sprayer
and the second postprocessor sprayer in the postprocessor housing;
and a packing support configured to support the packing at the
bottom and having a function of diffusing the preprocessed gas
under the packing.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the postprocessor further
comprises a diffuser disposed adjacent to the preprocessed gas
inlet and configured to diffuse the preprocessed gas introduced
through the preprocessed gas inlet.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus comprises a diffuser, and wherein the diffuser comprises
a gas diffuser having a shape that gets wider as it goes upwards so
that the exhaust gas introduced through the gas inlet is widely
dispersed in the housing to enable an efficient cleaning operation
and to prevent pressure loss caused by the falling cleaning liquid
and pressure loss by the diffuser itself.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus further comprises a cleaning liquid sprayer above the
diffuser, and wherein the sprayer comprises a lateral sprayer
configured to spray cleaning liquid to the side, thereby improving
work efficiency by increasing the contact area between the exhaust
gas dispersed by the diffuser and the cleaning liquid and improving
space utilization by reducing the height of the housing.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus further comprises a distributor above the sprayer, and
wherein the distributor is configured as a mesh structure including
a plurality of small through-holes and has an inclined portion the
diameter of which increases as it goes upwards and a large inlet
opening formed in the lower portion of the inclined portion so as
to evenly distribute the flow of the exhaust gas deflected to the
inner wall, thereby improving treatment efficiency.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus comprises a multi-sprayer having a first sprayer, a
second sprayer, and a third sprayer above the distributor, and
wherein the first sprayer, the second sprayer, and the third
sprayer are alternately arranged in the vertical direction to
increase the contact area with the exhaust gas and selectively
operate according to a load of an engine or a boiler, thereby
enabling efficient operation.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus comprises a droplet separator above the multi-sprayer,
wherein the droplet separator comprises a guide part through which
exhaust gas enters at the center thereof and one or more blades
formed at an upper portion of the guide part so as to induce a
spiral flow of the exhaust gas exiting from the guide part.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus comprises a droplet collector configured to collect the
droplets separated by the droplet separator to prevent harmful
substances from being discharged into the air.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus comprises a droplet blocker configured to block droplets
rising along the inclined surface of the housing above the droplet
separator, and wherein the droplet blocker comprises a blocking
wall extending downwards from one side of the inclined surface to
effectively block droplets rising along the inner wall.
22. A method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, the method
comprising: a level measuring step in which a level measuring unit
measures a level of cleaning liquid in a noxious gas removal unit
for removing noxious gas remaining in a gaseous state in cleaning
liquid discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which
receives exhaust gas generated by combustion, removes the noxious
gas from the exhaust gas by spraying the cleaning liquid to the
exhaust gas, and discharges the sprayed cleaning liquid, and
discharging the cleaning liquid from which the gaseous noxious gas
has been removed; and a flow rate adjustment step in which a flow
rate regulator adjusts a discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in
the noxious gas removal unit on the basis of a result of
measurement of the level measuring unit.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the flow rate adjustment step
is performed in such a manner that the flow rate regulator adjusts
the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in real time such that
the level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit
falls within a predetermined range.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising a level determining
step in which the level determiner determines whether or not the
level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus, which is to move to the noxious gas removal unit,
reaches a predetermined threshold level after or at the same time
as the flow rate adjustment step.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a countermeasure
step in which, if the level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is to move to the noxious
gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold level as a
result of a determination by the level determiner, a countermeasure
unit performs at least one of generation of a danger warning and
control so as to stop spraying of the cleaning liquid in the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for
removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus and, more particularly, to a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which are
capable of adjusting the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid from
a noxious gas removal unit, which removes noxious gas remaining in
a gaseous state in the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus and discharges the cleaning liquid from
which the noxious gas in the gaseous state has been removed, on the
basis of a result of measurement of the level of the cleaning
liquid in the noxious gas removal unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Most modern ships have engines and boilers to satisfy their
own power and heating requirements. In order to drive the engine
and the boiler, fuel must be burned, and exhaust gas generated
during the combustion process contains harmful substances such as
sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter(PM),
and the like.
[0003] Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides may act on the mucous
membranes of the human body, thereby causing respiratory diseases,
and are also pollutants designated as Class 1 carcinogens by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health
Organization (WHO). In addition, if SOx or NOx is released
untreated into the air, it reacts with moisture (H20) in the
atmosphere to become sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3),
respectively, which are major causes of acid rain.
[0004] PM is in the form of small particles, compared to gaseous
pollutants. If PM in the exhaust gas is released into the air
untreated, it may cause visibility problems of reducing the visible
distance, or fine particles may enter the human body through the
lungs or respiratory organs and cause various diseases. Fine dust,
which has recently been a major issue in Korea, is also caused by
PM, and PM may be regarded as a major cause of air pollution.
[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the emission of
harmful substances in exhaust gas. In particular, in the case of
ships having a huge engine capacity, it is known that an engine
thereof emits 130 times as much exhaust gas as a passenger car.
Thus, in order to prevent the emission of a huge amount of harmful
matter, specific and practical measures for treating the exhaust
gas from a ship are required.
[0006] Accordingly, the International Maritime Organization
(hereinafter, referred to as "IMO") has designated Emission Control
Areas (hereinafter, referred to as "ECAs") to limit the emission of
harmful substances in the corresponding areas. In particular, the
SOx Emission Control Areas (hereinafter, referred to as "SECAs")
are more broadly regulated than ECAs, in which other harmful
substances such as NOx are also regulated, meaning that tougher
sanctions are applied.
[0007] Furthermore, as of Jan. 1, 2015, regulations were further
tightened to limit the sulfur content of fuels that causes
environmental pollution to 0.1% for all ships passing through SECAs
(IMO 184(59)). SECAs were extended from the Baltic Sea and the
North Sea to North America through the amendment of the Marine
Pollution Prevention Convention in August 2011, and the coast of
China was also designated as a SECA as of Apr. 1, 2016. Therefore,
sulfur oxide management is expected to become more important in
consideration of the extension of the SECAs as described above.
[0008] In addition, legislation to lower the SOx content of exhaust
gas in oceans around the world, in addition to ECAs, from 3.5% to
0.5% was passed at the IMO General Assembly held on Oct. 28, 2016,
and will come into effect in 2020. Thus, the need for sulfur oxide
management is increasing, regardless of the region.
[0009] In order to comply with such international regulations,
low-sulfur oil is used, LNG propulsion vessels, which use a natural
gas with low sulfur oxide emissions, are used, or scrubbers for
reducing sulfur oxides in the exhaust gas are also used.
[0010] If exhaust gas is treated using a scrubber, it is possible
to prevent environmental pollution even when using a low-cost fuel
having relatively high sulfur content while satisfying the above
regulations, and it is thus economical. The scrubber ionizes SOx
with cleaning liquid. In this case, if seawater of about pH 8.3 or
fresh water containing alkaline additives is used as cleaning
liquid, it is possible to neutralize the ionized sulfur oxides. In
addition, the particulate matter may be aggregated and discharged
together with the cleaning liquid, thereby preventing release
thereof into the air.
[0011] Conventional scrubbers have insufficient measures to remove
SOx, which is not dissolved in the cleaning liquid but remains in a
gaseous state, when discharging the cleaning liquid, which is
sprayed therein and used to neutralize the ionized sulfur oxides,
to the outside. Accordingly, demand for technology for effectively
removing the gaseous SOx, which is a noxious gas, from the cleaning
liquid discharged from the scrubber while maintaining the level of
the cleaning liquid at a predetermined level in the scrubber is
increasing. [0012] [Prior patent 1] U.S. Pat. No. 9,272,241
"COMBINED CLEANING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCTION OF SOx AND Nox
IN EXHAUST GASES FROM A COMBUSTION ENGINE"
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present disclosure has been made in order to solve the
problems with the prior art described above, and an objective of
the present disclosure is to provide a system and a method for
removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which adjust the discharge rate of
the cleaning liquid in a noxious gas removal unit on the basis of a
result of measurement of the level of the cleaning liquid in the
noxious gas removal unit, which removes noxious gas remaining in a
gaseous state from the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus and discharges the cleaning liquid from
which the noxious gas in the gaseous state has been removed,
thereby removing the noxious gas from the cleaning liquid
discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus.
[0014] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which adjust
the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in real time such that
the cleaning liquid level in the noxious gas removal unit falls
within a predetermined range, thereby maintaining the level of the
cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
at an appropriate value.
[0015] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which enable
the level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit to
be precisely measured on the basis of the pressure in the noxious
gas removal unit.
[0016] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which enable a
determination as to whether or not the level of the cleaning liquid
remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is to move
to the noxious gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold
level.
[0017] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which enable
appropriate countermeasures to be executed if the level of the
cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus,
which is to move to the noxious gas removal unit, reaches a
predetermined threshold level.
[0018] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which are
capable of efficiently removing noxious gas from the cleaning
liquid discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus using an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus having improved space utilization
and harmful-substance removal efficiency.
[0019] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which can be
applied to a ship and can efficiently remove harmful substances
including sulfur oxides (SOx) from the exhaust gas discharged from
the engine, boiler, or the like of the ship.
[0020] The present disclosure may be implemented as embodiments
having the following configuration in order to attain the above
objectives.
[0021] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
system for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure
may include: an exhaust gas treatment apparatus configured to
receive exhaust gas generated by the combustion and flowing
thereinto, remove noxious gas from the exhaust gas by spraying
cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas, and discharge the sprayed
cleaning liquid; a noxious gas removal unit connected to the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus and configured to remove the
noxious gas remaining in a gaseous state in the cleaning liquid
discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus and discharge
the cleaning liquid from which the noxious gas in the gaseous state
has been removed; a level measuring unit configured to measure the
level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit; and a
flow rate regulator configured to adjust the discharge rate of the
cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit on the basis of the
result of measurement by the level measuring unit.
[0022] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the level measuring unit may measure the level of the cleaning
liquid in the noxious gas removal unit on the basis of pressure in
the noxious gas removal unit.
[0023] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the flow rate regulator may adjust the discharge rate of the
cleaning liquid in real time such that the level of the cleaning
liquid in the noxious gas removal unit falls within a predetermined
range.
[0024] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the noxious gas removal unit may include a conduit having one end
leading to a cleaning liquid outlet of the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus and an opposite end connected to the flow rate
regulator.
[0025] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the system for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure
may further include a level determiner configured to determine
whether or not the level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is to move to the noxious
gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold level.
[0026] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the system for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure
may further include a countermeasure unit configured to, if the
level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus, which is to move to the noxious gas removal unit,
reaches a predetermined threshold level as a result of a
determination by the level determiner, perform at least one of
generation of a danger warning and control so as to stop spraying
of the cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus.
[0027] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the level determiner may be disposed to lead to a cleaning liquid
outlet of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus.
[0028] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the system for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus may be installed in a
ship.
[0029] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the noxious gas may be sulfur oxides (SOx), and the cleaning liquid
may be seawater or fresh water containing alkaline additives.
[0030] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include: a preprocessor
configured to primarily reduce harmful substances in the exhaust
gas produced by combustion; and a postprocessor configured to
further remove harmful substances from preprocessed gas, which is
the exhaust gas from which the harmful substances have been
primarily reduced by the preprocessor, and connected to the noxious
gas removal unit, and the preprocessor may include: a preprocessor
housing having an exhaust gas inlet through which the exhaust gas
is introduced and a preprocessed gas outlet through which the
preprocessed gas, which is the exhaust gas from which the harmful
substances have been primarily reduced by the preprocessor, is
discharged and forming a flow path of the exhaust gas therein; an
agitator configured to cause the exhaust gas in the flow path to
flow in a curved pattern; a first preprocessor sprayer disposed
between the exhaust gas inlet and the agitator and configured to
spray cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas introduced through the
exhaust gas inlet; and a second preprocessor sprayer disposed
between the agitator and the preprocessed gas outlet and configured
to spray cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas that flows in a curved
pattern through the agitator in the flow path.
[0031] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the postprocessor may include: a postprocessor housing having a
preprocessed gas inlet through which the preprocessed gas is
introduced and a postprocessed gas outlet through which
postprocessed gas from which harmful substances have been removed
by the postprocessor is discharged and forming a flow path of the
preprocessed gas therein; and a droplet blocker configured to block
droplets that rise along an inner wall of the postprocessor housing
and are discharged through the postprocessed gas outlet.
[0032] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the postprocessor may further include: a first postprocessor
sprayer disposed in the flow path of the preprocessed gas below the
drop blocker and configured to spray cleaning liquid to the
preprocessed gas; and a second postprocessor sprayer disposed in
the flow path of the preprocessed gas below the drop blocker and
configured to spray cleaning liquid to the preprocessed gas and
operate independently from the first postprocessor sprayer.
[0033] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the postprocessor may further include: a packing disposed under the
first postprocessor sprayer and the second postprocessor sprayer in
the postprocessor housing; and a packing support configured to
support the packing at the bottom thereof and having a function of
diffusing the preprocessed gas under the packing.
[0034] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the postprocessor may further include a diffuser disposed adjacent
to the preprocessed gas inlet and configured to diffuse the
preprocessed gas introduced through the preprocessed gas inlet.
[0035] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include a diffuser, and the
diffuser may include a gas diffuser having a shape that gets wider
as it goes upwards so that the exhaust gas introduced through the
gas inlet is widely dispersed in the housing to enable an efficient
cleaning operation and to prevent pressure loss caused by the
falling cleaning liquid and pressure loss by the diffuser
itself.
[0036] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may further include a cleaning
liquid sprayer above the diffuser, and the sprayer may include a
lateral sprayer configured to spray cleaning liquid to the side,
thereby improving work efficiency by increasing the contact area
between the exhaust gas dispersed by the diffuser and the cleaning
liquid and improving space utilization by reducing the height of
the housing.
[0037] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may further include a
distributor above the sprayer, and the distributor may be
configured as a mesh structure including a plurality of small
through-holes and may have an inclined portion of which the
diameter increases as it goes upwards and a large inlet opening
formed in the lower portion of the inclined portion so as to evenly
distribute the flow of the exhaust gas deflected to the inner wall,
thereby improving treatment efficiency.
[0038] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include a multi-sprayer
having a first sprayer, a second sprayer, and a third sprayer above
the distributor, and the first sprayer, the second sprayer, and the
third sprayer may be alternately arranged in the vertical direction
to increase the contact area with the exhaust gas, and may
selectively operate according to a load of an engine or a boiler,
thereby enabling efficient operation.
[0039] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include a droplet separator
above the multi-sprayer, and the droplet separator may include a
guide part through which exhaust gas enters at the center thereof
and one or more blades formed at the upper portion of the guide
part so as to induce a spiral flow of the exhaust gas exiting from
the guide part.
[0040] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include a droplet collector
configured to collect the droplets separated by the droplet
separator to prevent harmful substances from being discharged into
the air.
[0041] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include a droplet blocker
configured to block droplets rising along the inclined surface of
the housing above the droplet separator, and the droplet blocker
may include a blocking wall extending downwards from one side of
the inclined surface to effectively block droplets rising along the
inner wall.
[0042] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a
method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus may include: a level
measuring step in which a level measuring unit measures a level of
cleaning liquid in a noxious gas removal unit for removing noxious
gas remaining in a gaseous state in cleaning liquid discharged from
an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which receives exhaust gas
generated by combustion, removes the noxious gas from the exhaust
gas by spraying the cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas, and
discharges the sprayed cleaning liquid, and discharging the
cleaning liquid from which the gaseous noxious gas has been
removed; and a flow rate adjustment step in which a flow rate
regulator adjusts a discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in the
noxious gas removal unit on the basis of a result of measurement of
the level measuring unit.
[0043] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the flow rate adjustment step may be performed in such a manner
that the flow rate regulator adjusts the discharge rate of the
cleaning liquid in real time such that the level of the cleaning
liquid in the noxious gas removal unit falls within a predetermined
range.
[0044] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus may further include a level
determining step in which the level determiner determines whether
or not the level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus, which is to move to the noxious gas
removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold level after or at
the same time as the flow rate adjustment step.
[0045] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
the method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus may further include a
countermeasure step in which, if the level of the cleaning liquid
remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is to move
to the noxious gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold
level as a result of a determination by the level determiner, a
countermeasure unit performs at least one of generation of a danger
warning and control so as to stop spraying of the cleaning liquid
in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus.
[0046] The present disclosure has the following effects through the
above-described configuration.
[0047] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which adjust
the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in a noxious gas removal
unit on the basis of a result of measurement of the level of the
cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit that removes
noxious gas remaining in a gaseous state in the cleaning liquid
discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus and discharges
the cleaning liquid from which the noxious gas in the gaseous state
has been removed, thereby removing the noxious gas from the
cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus.
[0048] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which adjust
the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in real time such that
the cleaning liquid level in the noxious gas removal unit falls
within a predetermined range, thereby maintaining the level of the
cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
at an appropriate value.
[0049] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which enable
the level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit to
be precisely measured on the basis of the pressure in the noxious
gas removal unit.
[0050] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which enable a
determination as to whether or not the level of the cleaning liquid
remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which is to move
to the noxious gas removal unit, reaches a predetermined threshold
level.
[0051] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which enable
appropriate countermeasures to be performed if the level of the
cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus,
which is to move to the noxious gas removal unit, reaches a
predetermined threshold level.
[0052] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which are
capable of efficiently removing noxious gas from the cleaning
liquid discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus using an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus having improved space utilization
and harmful-substance removal efficiency.
[0053] The present disclosure has an effect of providing a system
and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus, which can be
applied to a ship, and can efficiently remove harmful substances
including sulfur oxides (SOx) from the exhaust gas discharged from
the engine, boiler, or the like of the ship.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the
present disclosure will be more apparent from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0055] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a
system for removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a
system for removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0057] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus according to a first embodiment;
[0058] FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of an exhaust gas
treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment;
[0059] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A'
in FIG. 1;
[0060] FIG. 6 is a reference diagram illustrating a process of
processing an exhaust gas in the cross-section view in FIG. 5;
[0061] FIG. 7 is a cutaway perspective view of a preprocessor of an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a first
embodiment;
[0062] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line a1-a1'
in the section A in FIG. 7;
[0063] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line a2-a2'
in the section A in FIG. 7;
[0064] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line b-b'
in the section B in FIG. 7;
[0065] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an agitator of an exhaust
gas treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment;
[0066] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
c1-c1' in the section C in FIG. 7;
[0067] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
c2-c2' in the section C in FIG. 7;
[0068] FIG. 14 is a cutaway perspective view of a postprocessor of
an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a first
embodiment;
[0069] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
d1-d1' in the section D in FIG. 14;
[0070] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
d2-d2' in the section D in FIG. 14;
[0071] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a diffuser of an exhaust
gas treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment;
[0072] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a packing support of an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a first
embodiment;
[0073] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B'
in FIG. 18;
[0074] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e1-e1' in the section E in FIG. 14;
[0075] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e2-e2' in the section E in FIG. 14;
[0076] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line f-f'
in the section F in FIG. 14;
[0077] FIG. 23 is a reference diagram illustrating a washing
process in FIG. 22;
[0078] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line g-g'
in the section G in FIG. 14;
[0079] FIG. 25 is a reference diagram illustrating a droplet
blocking process in FIG. 24;
[0080] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus according to a second embodiment;
[0081] FIG. 27 is a cutaway perspective view of an exhaust gas
treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment;
[0082] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
f1-f1' in FIG. 27;
[0083] FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
diffuser of an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a
second embodiment;
[0084] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line a-a'
in the section A in FIG. 27;
[0085] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line a-a'
in the section A in FIG. 27 and illustrating an inclined state due
to rolling of a ship;
[0086] FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line a-a'
in the section A in FIG. 27 and illustrating the flow of exhaust
gas;
[0087] FIG. 33 is a perspective view illustrating sprayers of an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a second
embodiment;
[0088] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
b1-b1' in the section B in FIG. 27;
[0089] FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
b2-b2' in the section B in FIG. 27;
[0090] FIG. 36 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the state in
which sprayers of an exhaust gas treatment apparatus spray cleaning
liquid according to a second embodiment;
[0091] FIG. 37 is a perspective view illustrating a distributor of
an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a second
embodiment;
[0092] FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
c1-c1' in the section C in FIG. 27;
[0093] FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
c2-c2' in the section C in FIG. 27;
[0094] FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
c1-c1' in the sections A, B, and C in FIG. 27 and illustrating the
flow of exhaust gas;
[0095] FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-sprayer
of an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to a second
embodiment;
[0096] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
d1-d1' in the section D in FIG. 27;
[0097] FIGS. 43 and 44 are cross-sectional views taken along the
line d2-d2' in the section D in FIG. 27;
[0098] FIG. 45 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first
type of droplet separator of an exhaust gas treatment apparatus
according to a second embodiment;
[0099] FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e1-e1' in the section E in FIG. 27;
[0100] FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e2-e2' in the section E in FIG. 27;
[0101] FIG. 48 is a perspective view illustrating the flow of
exhaust gas by the first type of droplet separator of an exhaust
gas treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment;
[0102] FIG. 49 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
second type of droplet separator of an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus according to a second embodiment;
[0103] FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e1-e1' in the section E in FIG. 27;
[0104] FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e2-e2' in the section E in FIG. 27;
[0105] FIG. 52 is a perspective view illustrating the flow of
exhaust gas by the second type of droplet separator of an exhaust
gas treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment;
[0106] FIG. 53 is a perspective view illustrating the sections D
and E in FIG. 27;
[0107] FIG. 54 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
e1-e1' in the sections D and E in FIG. 27;
[0108] FIG. 55 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating
a droplet blocker of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus according
to a second embodiment;
[0109] FIG. 56 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
f1-f1' in the section F in FIG. 27;
[0110] FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing
noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas
treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
[0111] FIG. 58 is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing
noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas
treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0112] Hereinafter, a system and method for removing noxious gas
from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless
otherwise defined, all terms in this specification are equivalent
to the general meanings of the terms understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains,
and if the terms conflict with the meanings of the terms used
herein, they should be interpreted according to the definition used
in the present specification. In addition, a detailed description
of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily
obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure will be
omitted.
[0113] In the present disclosure, "exhaust gas" refers to gas
generated in the process of burning fuel to drive an engine, a
boiler, or the like, and the harmful substances in the exhaust gas
are sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter
(PM), and the like, which are contained in the exhaust gas. A
system and a method for removing noxious gas from cleaning liquid
discharged from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to the
present disclosure are primarily intended to process the exhaust
gas in a ship, but the application of the disclosure is not limited
to ships.
[0114] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a
system for removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure. Referring to the drawing, a system for
removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged from an
exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure includes
an exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1, a cleaning liquid supply unit
2, noxious gas removal unit 3, a level measuring unit 4, and a flow
rate regulator 5.
[0115] The exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 receives exhaust gas
generated by combustion and introduced therein, sprays cleaning
liquid to the exhaust gas to remove noxious gas from the exhaust
gas, and discharges the sprayed cleaning liquid. The exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1 receives and sprays seawater or fresh water
containing alkali additives as cleaning liquid to dissolve sulfur
oxides (SOx) of the exhaust gas in the cleaning liquid, thereby
removing and discharging the toxic substances. In the case where
the present disclosure is applied to a ship, the noxious gas may be
sulfur oxides (SOx), and the cleaning liquid may be seawater or
fresh water containing alkaline additives.
[0116] The exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 will be described
below with reference to a first embodiment 1a and a second
embodiment 1b. In the first embodiment 1a and the second embodiment
1b, the cleaning liquid is introduced through cleaning liquid
inlets 1114, 1314, and 1714, and the cleaning liquid is discharged
through cleaning liquid outlets 1115, 1315, and 1715.
[0117] The cleaning liquid supply unit 2 serves to supply the
cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1. As
described above, the cleaning liquid supply unit 2 may supply
seawater or fresh water containing alkaline additives as the
cleaning liquid. In addition, the cleaning liquid supply unit 2 may
operate in an open mode in which cleaning liquid is supplied by
pumping seawater and is then discharged to the outside without
recirculating the same or in a closed mode in which fresh water
containing alkaline additives is supplied as the cleaning liquid
and then the discharged cleaning liquid is recirculated for
reuse.
[0118] The noxious gas removal unit 3 is connected to the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus 1 and serves to remove noxious gas
remaining in the gaseous state in the cleaning liquid discharged
from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus and to discharge the
cleaning liquid from which the noxious gas in the gaseous state has
been removed. The noxious gases in the exhaust gas, such as sulfur
oxides (SOx), are mostly dissolved in the cleaning liquid
discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 in the state
in which the toxicity is eliminated, but some noxious gas may
remain in the gaseous state while being captured in the cleaning
liquid. If such gaseous noxious gas is contained in the cleaning
liquid and discharged to the outside, it may cause environmental
pollution, and thus it needs to be removed. The noxious gas removal
unit 3 allows the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus 1 to the outside in the state in which the
gaseous noxious gas contained in the cleaning liquid has been
removed.
[0119] The noxious gas removal unit 3 may include a conduit having
one end leading to a cleaning liquid outlet of the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus and the opposite end connected with the flow
rate regulator 5. The conduit serves as a reservoir capable of
storing the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1. The noxious gas removal unit 3 may further
include a noxious gas discharge unit for collecting or discharging
the noxious gas separated from the cleaning liquid in the
reservoir. The discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in the noxious
gas removal unit 3 is adjusted under the control of the flow rate
regulator 5, which will be described later.
[0120] The level measuring unit 4 serves to measure the level of
the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit 3. The cleaning
liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 stays
in the noxious gas removal unit 3 for a predetermined period of
time and the noxious gas remaining in the gaseous state in the
cleaning liquid is removed therein. The level measuring unit 4
measures the level of the cleaning liquid (i.e., a water level)
remaining in the noxious gas removal unit 3, thereby enabling
operation conforming to the processing capacity of the noxious gas
removal unit 3.
[0121] The level measuring unit 4 may measure the level of the
cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit 3 on the basis of
the pressure in the noxious gas removal unit 3. In this case, the
level measuring unit 4 may include a pressure sensor for detecting
a change in the pressure according to the level change of the
cleaning liquid inside the noxious gas removal unit 3 (i.e., a
transducer), an amplifier for amplifying an electric signal
transmitted from the transducer, and a connector for connecting the
amplifier to the transducer.
[0122] The level measuring unit 4 may employ any of various
measuring methods, such as a method using ultrasonic waves, in
addition to the measuring method based on the pressure described
above, and the detailed configuration thereof may vary according
thereto. That is, the method in which the level measuring unit 4
measures the level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas
removal unit 3 is not limited to any specific method.
[0123] The flow rate regulator 5 may regulate the discharge rate of
the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit 3 on the basis
of the result of measurement of the level measuring unit 4. The
flow rate regulator 5 may include a controller connected to the
level measuring unit 4 by circuits or by wired/wireless
communication and adjustment means for adjusting the discharge rate
of noxious gas removal unit 3 under the control of the controller.
A throttle valve may be applied as the regulation means.
[0124] The flow rate regulator 5 preferably adjusts the discharge
rate of the cleaning liquid in real time such that the level of the
cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit falls within a
predetermined range. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the
level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the noxious gas removal
unit 3 at a level suitable for removal of the noxious gas.
[0125] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a
system for removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged
from an exhaust gas treatment apparatus according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure. Compared to the system shown
in FIG. 1, the system for removing noxious gas according to the
present embodiment further includes a level determiner 6 and a
countermeasure unit 7, in addition to the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1, the cleaning liquid supply unit 2, the noxious gas
removal unit 3, the level measuring unit 4, and the flow rate
regulator 5. The elements other than the level determiner 6 and the
countermeasure unit 7 have been described above, and thus the level
determiner 6 and the countermeasure unit 7 will be described
below.
[0126] The level determiner 6 may determine whether or not the
level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1, which is to move to the noxious gas removal unit 3,
reaches a predetermined threshold level. The level determiner 6 may
include a level switch that is provided at a position at which it
is possible to measure the level of the cleaning liquid in the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1, and if the cleaning liquid level
reaches a specific level, gives notification thereof.
[0127] The noxious gas removal unit 3 is designed in consideration
of the capacity of the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus 1. Therefore, in general, the level of the
cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 is also
maintained at an appropriate level by regulating the discharge rate
of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit 3. However,
if the cleaning liquid is not appropriately discharged through the
noxious gas removal unit 3 due to the malfunction of at least one
of the noxious gas removal unit 3, the level measuring unit 4, and
the flow rate regulator 5, and if the level of the cleaning liquid
exceeds a threshold level in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1
according thereto, the durability or performance of the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1 may deteriorate. The level determiner 6 is
intended to prevent this problem.
[0128] As a result of a determination by the level determiner 6, if
the level of the cleaning liquid remaining in the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1, which is to move to the noxious gas removal
unit 3, reaches a predetermined threshold level, the countermeasure
unit 7 may perform at least one of generation of a danger warning
and control so as to stop spraying of the cleaning liquid in the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1. The countermeasure unit 7 may
include a controller that is connected to the level determiner 6
through circuits or wired/wireless communication and generates a
warning or controls the exhaust gas treatment apparatus or the
like.
[0129] The countermeasure unit 7 may generate the danger warning
through visible and audible means, and may stop the overall
operation of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 in order to stop
the spray of cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
1. The above operation of the countermeasure unit 7 may prevent
deterioration of durability or failure of the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1 due to backflow of the cleaning liquid.
[0130] Meanwhile, hereinafter, a first embodiment 1a and a second
embodiment 1b will be described as specific embodiments of the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1, which can be applied to a system
for removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged from
an exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure.
[0131] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1a according to a first embodiment includes a
preprocessor 11, a connection part 12, and a postprocessor 13.
[0132] A procedure of processing the exhaust gas performed by the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1a will be briefly described with
reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the thick arrow indicates the flow
of gas, the dotted line indicates the cleaning liquid to be
sprayed, and the thin arrow indicates the cleaning liquid to be
discharged.
[0133] If exhaust gas generated by combustion is introduced through
an exhaust gas inlet 1112, the preprocessor 11 processes the
exhaust gas into preprocessed gas from which the harmful substances
are primarily reduced and discharges the same through a
preprocessed gas outlet 1113. The connection part 12 moves the
preprocessed gas to the postprocessor 13. The postprocessor 13
further removes harmful substances from the preprocessed gas
introduced through a preprocessed gas inlet 1312 and discharges the
same through a postprocessed gas outlet 1313.
[0134] The cleaning liquid introduced through a cleaning liquid
inlet 1114 of the preprocessor 11 and used in the removal of
harmful substances from the exhaust gas in the preprocessor 11 and
the cleaning liquid introduced through a cleaning liquid inlet 1314
of the postprocessor 13 and used in the removal of harmful
substances from the preprocessed gas in the postprocessor 13 are
discharged through cleaning liquid outlets 1115 and 1315,
respectively, which are formed in the bottoms of the preprocessor
11 and the postprocessor 13.
[0135] In the case where the present disclosure is applied to a
ship, seawater or fresh water mixed with alkaline additives may be
used as the cleaning liquid, and the exhaust gas may be generated
during combustion in an engine or a boiler of the ship. In
addition, the harmful substances may be sulfur oxides (SOx) and
PM.
[0136] The preprocessor 11 serves to primarily reduce harmful
substances in the exhaust gas generated by combustion. As can be
seen in FIGS. 4 to 7, the preprocessor 11 includes a preprocessor
housing 111, a first preprocessor sprayer 112, an agitator 113, and
a second preprocessor sprayer 114.
[0137] The preprocessor housing 111 forms the external shape of the
preprocessor 11 and forms a flow path of the exhaust gas therein.
The preprocessor housing 111 includes an inner wall 1111, an
exhaust gas inlet 1112, a preprocessed gas outlet 1113, a cleaning
liquid inlet 1114, and a cleaning liquid outlet 1115. Referring to
FIGS. 3 to 7, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
preprocessor housing 111 is formed as a cylindrical tower and
provides a flow path through which the introduced exhaust gas flows
from the top of the preprocessor housing 111 to the bottom thereof,
thereby primarily removing harmful substances from the exhaust
gas.
[0138] The inner wall 1111 is a portion that forms a flow path of
the exhaust gas inside the preprocessor housing 111. Referring to
FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner wall
1111 forms a cylindrical flow path of the exhaust gas inside the
preprocessor housing 111.
[0139] The exhaust gas is introduced into the preprocessor housing
111 through the exhaust gas inlet 1112. As can be seen in FIGS. 4
to 7, the exhaust gas inlet 1112 is formed at an upper end of the
preprocessor housing 111, and the exhaust gas introduced through
the exhaust gas inlet 1112 flows down along the cylindrical flow
path formed by the inner wall 1111.
[0140] The preprocessed gas, which is the exhaust gas from which
harmful substances have primarily been removed in the preprocessor
11, is discharged through the preprocessed gas outlet 1113. As
shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the preprocessed gas outlet 1113 is formed
at one lower side of the preprocessor housing 111, and the
preprocessed gas discharged through the preprocessed gas outlet
1113 flows to the postprocessor 13 through the connection part
12.
[0141] The cleaning liquid to be sprayed in the preprocessor 11 is
introduced through the cleaning liquid inlet 1114. As shown in FIG.
7, the cleaning liquid inlet 1114 is connected to the first
preprocessor sprayer 112 and the second preprocessor sprayer 114,
respectively, or is formed therein, which will be described
later.
[0142] The cleaning liquid sprayed by first preprocessor sprayer
112 and the second preprocessor sprayer 114 in order to remove
harmful substances from the exhaust gas introduced into the
preprocessor housing 111 through the exhaust gas inlet 1112, is
discharged through the cleaning liquid outlet 1115. As shown in
FIGS. 4 to 7, the cleaning liquid outlet 1114 is formed at the
lower end of the preprocessor housing 111, and the cleaning liquid
sprayed by the first preprocessor sprayer 112 and the second
preprocessor sprayer 114 may capture harmful substances in the
exhaust gas, and may move to the lower end of the preprocessor
housing 111 to then be discharged to the outside through the
cleaning liquid outlet 1114. The lower end of the preprocessor
housing 111 may be preferably formed in a shape that converges
toward the cleaning liquid outlet 1114 in order to facilitate
discharge of the cleaning liquid.
[0143] The first preprocessor sprayer 112 is disposed near the
exhaust gas inlet 1112 inside the preprocessor housing 111 and
sprays cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas introduced through the
exhaust gas inlet 1112. As described above, seawater, fresh water
mixed with alkaline additives, and the like may be used as the
cleaning liquid.
[0144] The first preprocessor sprayer 112 cools the exhaust gas
introduced through the exhaust gas inlet 1112. The exhaust gas
introduced through the exhaust gas inlet 1112 generally has a
temperature of 250 degrees C. to 350 degrees C., and the
temperature thereof may be lowered to 50 degrees C. to 60 degrees
C. by the cleaning liquid sprayed from the first preprocessor
sprayer 112, and the volume thereof may be reduced.
[0145] In addition, the first preprocessor sprayer 112 allows, in
particular, PM, among the harmful substances in the exhaust gas, to
be primarily captured by the cleaning liquid. The exhaust gas in
contact with the cleaning liquid sprayed by the first preprocessor
sprayer 112 changes its flow path from a straight pattern to a
spiral pattern while passing through the agitator 113, and comes
into contact with the cleaning liquid sprayed by the second
preprocessor sprayer 114, which will be described later.
Accordingly, the cleaning liquid, which is sprayed by the first
preprocessor sprayer 112 and captures the harmful substances, is
increased in size and is moved to the lower portion of the
preprocessor housing 111 by gravity.
[0146] Preferably, the first preprocessor sprayer 112 sprays the
cleaning liquid in the form of microdroplets, unlike the second
preprocessor sprayer 114. Specifically, the first preprocessor
sprayer 112 may spray the cleaning liquid in the form of droplets
having a particle diameter of 100 to 200 .mu.m. Among the harmful
substances in the exhaust gas, PM has a particle diameter of 0.1 to
0.5 .mu.m, and if the cleaning liquid is sprayed in the form of
droplets having a particle diameter of 100 to 200 .mu.m, the
cleaning liquid can effectively capture and aggregate the PM.
[0147] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, in an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the first preprocessor sprayer 112 includes a rod-type
spray body 1121 and a spray nozzle 1122 formed at one end of the
spray body 1121. The spray body 1121 may be supplied with cleaning
liquid and compressed air from a cleaning liquid supply means (not
shown) through the cleaning liquid inlet 1114. The spray body 1121
receives cleaning liquid together with compressed air and delivers
the same to the spray nozzle 1122, and the spray nozzle 1122 sprays
the cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas.
[0148] Meanwhile, a plurality of first preprocessor sprayers 112 is
disposed parallel to the cross section perpendicular to the flow
direction of the exhaust gas in the flow path of the exhaust gas,
which is formed by the inner wall 1111 of the preprocessor housing
111. The plurality of first preprocessor sprayers 112 is arranged
so as to protrude from the inner wall 1111 toward the center of the
flow path at a predetermined angular interval relative to each
other. The above arrangement may enable the cleaning liquid to be
efficiently sprayed to the exhaust gas introduced through the
exhaust gas inlet 1112 and flowing to the agitator 113.
[0149] The specific shape and arrangement of the first preprocessor
sprayer 112 may vary depending on the spray capacity of the first
preprocessor sprayer 112 and the overall designed length of the
preprocessor 11.
[0150] The agitator 113 is disposed between the first preprocessor
sprayer 112 and the second preprocessor sprayer 114 in the
preprocessor housing 111 and serves to allow the exhaust gas to
flow in a curve, preferably in a spiral, in the flow path thereof.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the preprocessor
housing 111 forms a flow path of the exhaust gas in the vertical
direction from the top to the bottom, and the agitator 113 changes
the flow of the exhaust gas, which is introduced through the
exhaust gas inlet 1112 and flows down straight, into a curved
pattern, preferably a spiral pattern.
[0151] When the flow path of the exhaust gas is changed from a
straight pattern to a curved pattern by the agitator 113, the flow
path becomes longer, and as a result thereof, the contact time
between the exhaust gas and the cleaning liquid sprayed from the
second preprocessor sprayer 114 may be increased. Accordingly, the
proportion of harmful substances, such as PM, SOx, and the like, in
the exhaust gas captured by the cleaning liquid is increased.
Therefore, the agitator 113 is preferably disposed adjacent to the
exhaust gas inlet 1112.
[0152] As described above, it is possible to increase the time
during which harmful substances are removed from the exhaust gas
relative to the internal space of the preprocessor housing 111
using the agitator 113, and it is possible to improve the
efficiency of removal of harmful substances from the exhaust gas
without increasing the height of the preprocessor 11, even if the
height thereof is reduced. As a result, the equipment can be
miniaturized.
[0153] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the agitator 113 is disposed
so as to cover the flow path and includes a central body 1131, a
plurality of blades 1132, and space portions 1133. The agitator 113
is placed on protrusion supports 1111a formed on the inner wall
1111 of the preprocessor housing 111 by means of a flange 1134
coupled to the outer side of the blades 1132. The agitator 113 may
be arranged to be coupled to the inner wall 1111 of the
preprocessor housing 111 by welding or the like, as necessary.
[0154] The body 1131 is the center of the agitator 113, and the
blades 1132 are radially coupled to the body 1131 at a
predetermined torsion angle. In addition, the exhaust gas may pass
through the space portions 1133 between the blades 1132 without
colliding therewith.
[0155] As shown in FIG. 10, in an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the agitator 113 has six blades 1132 coupled to the
body 1131 at an interval of 30 degrees along the outer surface
thereof so as to be twisted at a predetermined angle, and the space
portions 1133 are formed between the blades 1132.
[0156] With the configuration of the agitator 113 described above,
the exhaust gas passing through the agitator 113 may have a spiral
flow to be symmetric with respect to the center of the flow path of
the exhaust gas formed by the inner wall 1111 of the preprocessor
housing 111 and to be smooth so that harmful substances in the
exhaust gas, which are captured by the cleaning liquid sprayed by
the first preprocessor sprayer 112 and the second preprocessor
sprayer 114, may flow down along the inner wall 1111 of the housing
111.
[0157] On the other hand, if the space portions 1133 are not
provided between the blades 1132, the exhaust gas introduced
through the exhaust gas inlet 1112 may exhibit excessive pressure
loss when passing through the agitator 113, which is undesirable in
terms of the flow of the exhaust gas.
[0158] In addition, the agitator 113 may be preferably fixed and
preventing from rotating. This is due to the fact that the exhaust
gas introduced through the exhaust gas inlet 1112 generally has a
sufficient fluid supply speed toward the preprocessed gas outlet
1113 so that separate propulsion energy is not required for the
exhaust gas in the flow path.
[0159] The second preprocessor sprayer 114 is disposed between the
agitator 113 and the preprocessed gas outlet 1113 in the
preprocessor housing 111, and sprays cleaning liquid to the exhaust
gas passing through the agitator 113 and flowing spirally through
the flow path.
[0160] The second preprocessor sprayer 114 further sprays cleaning
liquid to the exhaust gas, which passes through the agitator 113
and flows in a curve pattern, preferably in a spiral pattern,
toward the preprocessed gas outlet 1113 located in the lower
portion of the preprocessor housing 111, so as to facilitate
aggregation of the cleaning liquid, which was sprayed by the first
preprocessor sprayer 112 and which captured harmful substances,
such as PM or the like, contained in the exhaust gas, thereby
increasing the size thereof. Thus, the aggregated cleaning liquid
flows down along the inner wall 1111 of the preprocessor housing
111 or effectively falls down to the bottom of the preprocessor
housing 111.
[0161] As described above, the second preprocessor sprayer 114
preferably sprays cleaning liquid having a larger particle diameter
than the cleaning liquid sprayed by the first preprocessor sprayer
112 in order to increase the size of the droplets of the cleaning
liquid, which was sprayed by the first preprocessor sprayer 112 and
captured harmful substances, such as PM or the like, in the exhaust
gas. Specifically, the second preprocessor sprayer 114 preferably
sprays the cleaning liquid in the form of droplets having a
particle diameter of 500 .mu.m to 1,000 .mu.m.
[0162] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, in an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the second preprocessor sprayer 114 includes a
rod-type spray body 1141, a plurality of spray rods 1142 branching
side by side from the spray body 1141 at a predetermined interval,
and a plurality of spray nozzles 1143 formed at a predetermined
interval on the respective spray rods 1142. The spray body 1141 may
be supplied with a cleaning liquid and compressed air from the
cleaning liquid supply means (not shown) through the cleaning
liquid inlet 1114. The spray body 1141 receives the cleaning liquid
together with the compressed air and delivers the same to the
respective spray rods 1142, and the spray nozzles 1143 spray the
cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas.
[0163] The second preprocessor sprayer 114 has a structure in which
the spray nozzles 1143 for spraying the cleaning liquid are more
densely arranged than the first preprocessor sprayer 112, which is
advantageous for evenly spraying the cleaning liquid to the exhaust
gas passing through the agitator 113 and flowing in a spiral
through the flow path without a dead zone.
[0164] Like the first preprocessor sprayer 112 described above, the
specific shape and arrangement of the second preprocessor sprayer
114 may also vary depending on the spray capacity of the second
preprocessor sprayer 114, the overall designed length of the
processor 11, and the like.
[0165] The connection part 12 moves the preprocessed gas, which is
the exhaust gas from which harmful substances are primarily
reduced, from the preprocessor 11 to the postprocessor 13.
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the connection part 12 includes a
passage having one end leading to the preprocessed gas outlet 1113
of the preprocessor housing 111 and the opposite end leading to the
preprocessed gas inlet 1312 of the postprocessor housing 131.
[0166] The postprocessor 13 further removes harmful substances from
the preprocessed gas, which is the exhaust gas from which the
harmful substances are primarily reduced by the preprocessor 11.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 and 14, the postprocessor 13 includes a
postprocessor housing 131, a diffuser 132, a packing 133, a packing
support 134, a first postprocessor sprayer 135, a second
postprocessor sprayer 136, a gas/liquid separator 137, a washing
means 138, and a droplet blocker 139.
[0167] The postprocessor housing 131 forms the external shape of
the postprocessor 13 and forms a flow path of the preprocessed gas
therein. The postprocessor housing 131 includes an inner wall 1311,
a preprocessed gas inlet 1312, a postprocessed gas outlet 1313, and
a cleaning liquid outlet 1315. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 14, in an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the postprocessor housing 131
is formed as a cylindrical tower and provides a flow path for
moving the preprocessed gas introduced through one lower side
thereof in the upward direction and allowing harmful substances to
be further removed from the preprocessed gas.
[0168] The inner wall 1311 forms a flow path of the preprocessed
gas inside the postprocessor housing 131. Referring to FIGS. 4 and
14, the inner wall 1311 forms a cylindrical flow path of the
exhaust gas inside the postprocessor housing 131.
[0169] The preprocessed gas flows into the postprocessor housing
131 through the preprocessed gas inlet 1312. As shown in FIGS. 4 to
6 and 14, the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 is formed at one lower
side of the postprocessor housing 131, and the preprocessed gas
introduced through the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 moves upwards
along the cylindrical flow path formed by the inner wall 1311.
[0170] The postprocessed gas, which is the preprocessed gas from
which harmful substances have been further removed in the
postprocessor 13, is discharged through the postprocessed gas
outlet 1313. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and 14, the postprocessed gas
outlet 1313 is formed at an upper portion of the postprocessor
housing 131, and the postprocessed gas obtained by removing harmful
substances from the exhaust gas by the preprocessor 11 and the
postprocessor 13 may be discharged through the postprocessed gas
outlet 1313 into the air.
[0171] The cleaning liquid to be sprayed is introduced into the
postprocessor 13 through the cleaning liquid inlet 1314. As can be
seen in FIGS. 4 and 14, the cleaning liquid inlet 1314 is connected
to the first postprocessor sprayer 135, the second postprocessor
sprayer 136, and the washing means 138, which will be described
later, or is formed therein.
[0172] The cleaning liquid, which is sprayed by the first
postprocessor sprayer 135 or the second postprocessor sprayer 136
to remove harmful substances from the preprocessed gas introduced
into the postprocessor housing 131 through the preprocessed gas
inlet 1312, is discharged through the cleaning liquid outlet 1315.
As can be seen through FIGS. 4 to 6 and 14, the cleaning liquid
outlet 1315 may be formed at the lower end of the postprocessor
housing 131, and the cleaning liquid sprayed by the first
postprocessor sprayer 135 and the second postprocessor sprayer 136
may capture harmful substances in the preprocessed gas, and may
flow to the lower end of the postprocessor housing 131 to then be
discharged to the outside through the cleaning liquid outlet 1315.
The lower end of the postprocessor housing 131 may be preferably
formed in a shape that converges toward the cleaning liquid outlet
1315 in order to facilitate the discharge of the cleaning
liquid.
[0173] The diffuser 132 is disposed adjacent to the preprocessed
gas inlet 1312 in the postprocessor housing 131 in order to diffuse
the preprocessed gas introduced through the preprocessed gas inlet
1312. Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, the diffuser 132 is disposed in
front of the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 so as to be spaced
therefrom and includes a body 1321 and a fastening part 1322.
[0174] The body 1321 is a member that is disposed to cover the
front of the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 and has a diffusion part
1321a through which the preprocessed gas may pass. The body 1321
may be formed of a plate member. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the
body 1321 may be formed in its entirety so as to vertically cover
the front of the preprocessed gas inlet 1312, and the upper and
lower ends of the body 1321 may be inclined or curved toward the
preprocessed gas inlet 1312.
[0175] More specifically, the upper end of the body 1321 is
inclined up toward the preprocessed gas inlet 1312, and the lower
end of the body 1321 is inclined down toward the preprocessed gas
inlet 1312. The body 1321 in the above shape may uniformly diffuse
the preprocessed gas introduced through the preprocessed gas inlet
1312 forward, upwards, and downwards. The overall shape of the body
1321 may be formed to be curved, instead of being formed such that
only the upper and lower ends are inclined or curved.
[0176] The diffusion part 1321a may include a plurality of
through-holes. The diffusion part 1321a may include a plurality of
uniformly formed through-holes. However, the diffusion part 1321a
is not limited to through-holes, and the diffusion part 1321a may
be configured in the form of a slit or the like.
[0177] The area or shape of the body 1321, or the size, shape,
number, and the like of the diffusion part 1321a may vary depending
on the processing capacity of the postprocessor 13.
[0178] The fastening part 1322 is fastened to a fixing part 1311b
formed inside the postprocessor housing 131, thereby fixing the
diffuser 132 to the inside of the postprocessor housing 131.
Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the fastening part 1322 is vertically
extended or bent from the left and right ends of the body 1321
toward the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 and is fastened to the
fixing part 1311b formed inside the postprocessor housing 131 using
a fastening means, such as a bolt, thereby fixing the diffuser 132
to the inside of the postprocessor housing 131.
[0179] Since the preprocessed gas, which is the exhaust gas from
which harmful substances are primarily reduced by the preprocessor
11, has a spiral flow path that was changed by the agitator 113,
the preprocessed gas also has some rotational energy even when the
preprocessed gas is discharged through the preprocessed gas outlet
1113 and introduced into the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 via the
connection part 12. Therefore, the flow of the preprocessed gas is
concentrated on the side of the preprocessed gas inlet 1312 on the
inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor housing 131 while entering the
postprocessor housing 131, and the preprocessed gas may not be
evenly distributed over the flow path of the preprocessed gas
formed inside the postprocessor housing 131.
[0180] The diffuser 132 may serve as a nozzle to narrow the
cross-sectional area of the preprocessed gas when the preprocessed
gas flows into the postprocessor housing 131, thereby allowing the
preprocessed gas to uniformly diffuse to the inside of the
postprocessor housing 131. Accordingly, the preprocessed gas may be
evenly distributed over the flow path of the preprocessed gas
formed inside the postprocessor housing 131. That is, since the
diffuser 132 may evenly disperse the preprocessed gas introduced
into the packing 133, it is possible to increase the absorption
efficiency of SOx in the preprocessed gas by the packing 133 and to
improve the capture efficiency of other harmful substances.
[0181] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, two diffusers 132
may be disposed in sequence in front of the preprocessed gas inlet
1312, thereby facilitating uniform diffusion by the diffuser
132.
[0182] The packing 133 is intended to increase the contact area
between the cleaning liquid sprayed by the first postprocessor
sprayer 135 and the second postprocessor sprayer 136, which will be
described later, and the preprocessed gas. The packing 133 is
disposed above the diffuser 132 in the flow path of the
preprocessed gas inside the postprocessor housing 131 and increases
the gas/liquid contact area between the preprocessed gas and the
cleaning liquid, thereby facilitating the dissolution of SOx, which
is a harmful substance in the preprocessed gas, in the cleaning
liquid including seawater or fresh water containing alkaline
additives.
[0183] The packing 133 has a structure including a plurality of
fillers, and the filler may be made of steel, ceramic, plastic, or
the like. In addition, the packing 133 may be configured as a
random packing in which fillers are gathered without a specific
pattern or as a structured packing having a specific pattern. The
packing 133 may vary in the type and shape thereof depending on the
processing capacity and the designed length of the postprocessor
13.
[0184] The packing support 134 supports the packing 133 at the
bottom thereof, and diffuses the preprocessed gas. Referring to
FIGS. 18 and 19, the packing support 134 covers the flow path of
the preprocessed gas, is placed on a protrusion member 1311a, which
protrudes inward from the inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor
housing 131, at the edge thereof, and supports the packing 133
placed thereon. In the present disclosure, the packing support 134
has a function of diffusing the preprocessed gas at the lower
portion of the packing 133.
[0185] The packing support 134 includes an opening part 134a formed
to allow the preprocessed gas to pass therethrough and a support
part 134b supporting the packing. More specifically, the support
part 134b is a strand having a cross structure, and the opening
part 134a is a through-hole formed by the support part 134b. That
is, the packing support 134 has an opening part 134a in the form of
a mesh formed by the support part 134b having the cross structure.
This mesh structure may lower the resistance, thereby reducing the
pressure loss of the preprocessed gas.
[0186] It is preferable to increases the passage area of the
preprocessed gas by increasing the ratio of the opening part 134a
(i.e., the ratio of the through-holes in the mesh structure) of the
packing support 134, compared to a general mesh structure, thereby
minimizing the pressure loss of the preprocessed gas. More
specifically, it is preferable to configure the ration of the area
of the opening part 134a to the vertical projection area of the
support part 134b to range approximately from 2:1 to 4:1.
[0187] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 18, at least a portion of the
support part 134b preferably has a twisted structure. If the
support part 134b has a twisted structure as described above, the
preprocessed gas that collides with the support part 134b, among
the preprocessed gas passing through the opening part 134a, is
changed in its traveling direction along the twisted direction. As
a result, the preprocessed gas may be diffused more widely, and
more uniform and active dispersion and diffusion of the
preprocessed gas may be realized.
[0188] In the present disclosure, the packing support 134 plays the
role of evenly distributing the preprocessed gas introduced into
the packing 133 over the entire lower area of the packing 133, as
well as supporting the packing 133. As a result, it is possible to
increase the absorption efficiency of SOx of the preprocessed gas
in the packing 133 through the packing support 134, and to improve
the capture efficiency of other harmful substances.
[0189] Meanwhile, the packing support 134 preferably has a
corrugated structure in which the peaks 1341 and the valleys 1342
are alternately connected side by side. The above corrugated
structure may improve the support force per unit area so that the
packing 133 can be more stably supported by the peaks 1341.
Furthermore, this structure allows the pressure of the preprocessed
gas flowing toward the packing 133 to be uniformly distributed over
the packing support 134, so that the preprocessed gas flowing to
the packing 133 under the packing 133 may diffuse uniformly to the
bottom of the packing 133.
[0190] The first postprocessor sprayer 135 is disposed in the flow
path of the preprocessed gas inside the postprocessor housing 131
and sprays cleaning liquid to the preprocessed gas. The first
postprocessor sprayer 135 is disposed above the packing 133 and
sprays the cleaning liquid to the packing 133.
[0191] Referring to FIGS. 14, 20, and 21, in an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the first postprocessor sprayer 135 may include
a rod-type spray body 1351, a plurality of spray rods 1352
branching side by side from the spray body 1351 at a predetermined
interval, and a plurality of spray nozzles 1353 formed on the
respective spray rods 1352 at a predetermined interval, and may
further include a cleaning liquid supply means (not shown) for
supplying cleaning liquid and compressed air to the respective
spray rods 1352 through the spray body 1351. The cleaning liquid
and compressed air are supplied by the cleaning liquid supply means
(not shown) to the spray body 1351 through the cleaning liquid
inlet 1314. The spray body 1351 receives the cleaning liquid
together with the compressed air and delivers the same to the
respective spray rods 1352, and the spray nozzles 1353 spray the
cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas.
[0192] The specific shape and arrangement of the first
postprocessor sprayer 135 may vary depending on the spray capacity
of the first postprocessor sprayer 135, the overall designed length
of the postprocessor 13, and the like.
[0193] The second postprocessor sprayer 136 is disposed in the flow
path of the preprocessed gas inside the postprocessor housing 131
so as to spray cleaning liquid to the preprocessed gas, but the
second postprocessor sprayer 136 operates independently from the
first postprocessor sprayer 135. Independent operation of the
second postprocessor sprayer 136 may be performed under the control
of the controller (C) as shown in FIG. 19. The controller (C)
performs control such that the spray of cleaning liquid by the
first postprocessor sprayer 135 is performed independently from
that of the second postprocessor sprayer 136.
[0194] Referring to FIGS. 14, 20, and 21, in an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the second postprocessor sprayer 136 may
include a rod-type spray body 1361, a plurality of spray rods 1362
branching side by side from the spray body 1361 at a predetermined
interval, and a plurality of spray nozzles 1363 formed on the
respective spray rods 1362 at a predetermined interval, and may
further include cleaning liquid supply means (not shown) for
supplying cleaning liquid and compressed air to the respective
spray rods 1362 through the spray body 1361. The cleaning liquid
and compressed air are supplied by the cleaning liquid supply means
(not shown) to the spray body 1361 through the cleaning liquid
inlet 1314. The spray body 1361 receives the cleaning liquid
together with the compressed air and delivers the same to the
respective spray rods 1362, and the spray nozzles 1363 spray the
cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas.
[0195] Like the description of the first postprocessor sprayer 135
above, the specific shape and arrangement of the second
postprocessor sprayer 136 may vary depending on the spray capacity
of the second postprocessor sprayer 136, the overall designed
length of the postprocessor 13, and the like.
[0196] Independent operation of the second postprocessor sprayer
136 from the first postprocessor sprayer 135 means that the second
postprocessor sprayer 136 may spray the cleaning liquid selectively
or at the same time as the first postprocessor sprayer 135.
Therefore, if the amount of the exhaust gas generated by combustion
and the amount of the preprocessed gas introduced from the
preprocessor 11 change according to the load of the engine, it is
possible to appropriately spray the cleaning liquid according
thereto, thereby ensuring economical operation of the postprocessor
13.
[0197] The second postprocessor sprayer 136 is disposed above the
first postprocessor sprayer 135 at a predetermined interval. If the
second postprocessor sprayer 136 and the first postprocessor
sprayer 135 are disposed on the same horizontal plane in the flow
path of the preprocessed gas, resistance to the flow of the
preprocessed gas is increased. Therefore, it is preferably to
arrange the second postprocessor sprayer 136 and the first
postprocessor sprayer 135 at different heights.
[0198] Furthermore, it is more preferable to arrange the first
postprocessor sprayer 135 and the second postprocessor sprayer 136
so as to cross each other in the flow path of the preprocessed gas
when viewed from above while being disposed at different heights.
This arrangement causes the cleaning liquid to be evenly sprayed to
the preprocessed gas in the flow path thereof without a dead zone
and enables more effective removal of harmful substances from the
preprocessed gas.
[0199] Hereinafter, a mechanism for removing harmful substances
from the preprocessed gas using the cleaning liquid sprayed by the
first postprocessor sprayer 135 and the second postprocessor
sprayer 136 will be described.
[0200] The preprocessed gas contains harmful substances, such as
sulfur oxides (SOx), PM, and the like, which are acidic substances,
and the first postprocessor sprayer 135 and the second
postprocessor sprayer 136 spray cleaning liquid in order to
neutralize or aggregate the harmful substances to then remove the
same. In general, the PM 0.1 to 0.5 .mu.m in size is first
aggregated by microdroplets (100 to 200 .mu.m) so that the size
thereof is increased. In addition, in order to neutralize the
acidic sulfur oxides (SOx), an alkaline cleaning liquid is
required. In the case of using fresh water, separate alkaline
additives are added to induce a neutralization reaction.
[0201] In this case, the alkaline additives may be NaOH (sodium
hydroxide), Na2CO3 (sodium carbonate), NaHCO.sub.3(sodium
bicarbonate), and the like. The neutralization reaction of sulfur
oxides (SOx) by the cleaning liquid having NaOH added thereto is as
follows.
SO2(g)+2NaOH(aq)+(1/2)O2(g).fwdarw.2Na++SO42-+H2O
[0202] However, as described above, in the case where the present
disclosure is applied to a ship, seawater, which is brine, may be
used as cleaning liquid. In general, seawater contains salts, such
as sodium chloride (NaCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), potassium
chloride (KCl), and the like, and exhibits slight alkalinity of pH
7.8 to 8.3 due to anions Cl-, SO42-, Br-, and the like, which are
produced by the solution of salts. Therefore, if such seawater is
used as cleaning liquid, it is possible to neutralize sulfur oxides
(SOx) without adding separate alkaline additives.
[0203] In this case, the neutralization reaction by seawater is as
follows. First, sulfur dioxide (SO2) in a gaseous state is mixed
with water.
SO.sub.2(g)+H.sub.2O.sub.(l)H.sub.2SO.sub.3(aq)
[0204] Next, it reacts with a base in seawater.
2H.sub.2SO.sub.3(aq)+OH.sup.-2HSO.sub.3.sub.-.sub.(aq)+H.sup.+.sub.(aq)+-
H.sub.2O.sub.(aq)
2HS.sub.2SO.sub.3.sub.-.sub.(aq)+OH.sup.-.sub.(aq)2SO.sub.3.sup.2-(aq)+H-
.sup.+.sub.(aq)+H.sub.2O.sub.(aq)
[0205] In other words, sulfur dioxide is absorbed into the seawater
to form sulfates.
[0206] The gas/liquid separator 137 is disposed above the second
postprocessor sprayer 136 inside the postprocessor housing 131 to
separate microdroplets passing through the second postprocessor
sprayer 136 and flowing along the flow path of the preprocessed
gas. The gas/liquid separator 137 is disposed in such a manner that
the edge thereof is placed on a protrusion member 1311a protruding
inwards from the inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor housing
131.
[0207] The gas/liquid separator 137 separates, filters, and
collects aerosol-type droplets or mist generated by contact between
the preprocessed gas and the cleaning liquid. The gas/liquid
separator 137 may include a plurality of blades arranged at a
predetermined interval and each having a vertical cross section in
a zigzag shape. In addition, the specific form of the gas/liquid
separator 137 may vary depending on the design of the postprocessor
13, temperature, chemical characteristics, and the like.
[0208] The washing means 138 is disposed above the second
postprocessor sprayer 136 and below the gas/liquid separator 137
inside the postprocessor housing 131 so as to spray cleaning liquid
toward the gas/liquid separator 137.
[0209] Referring to FIGS. 14, 22 and 23, in an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the washing means 138 may include a rod-type
spray body 1381, a plurality of spray rods 1382 branching side by
side from the spray body 1381 at a predetermined interval, and a
plurality of spray nozzles 1383 formed at a predetermined interval
on the respective spray rods 1382, and may further include cleaning
liquid supply means (not shown) for supplying cleaning liquid and
compressed air to the respective spray rods 1382 through the spray
body 1381. The cleaning liquid and the compressed air are supplied
from the cleaning liquid supply means (not shown) to the spray body
1381 through the cleaning liquid inlet 1314. The spray body 1381
receives the cleaning liquid together with the compressed air and
delivers the same to the respective spray rods 1382, and the spray
nozzles 1383 spray the cleaning liquid toward the gas/liquid
separator 137.
[0210] The gas/liquid separator 137 may be contaminated or clogged
in the process of separating, filtering, and collecting
microdroplets or mist in the state of capturing harmful substances,
such as PM and the like, in the preprocessed gas. The washing means
138 washes the gas/liquid separator 137 using cleaning liquid,
thereby preventing contamination and blockage of the gas/liquid
separator 137.
[0211] In addition, the washing means 138 increases the size of the
microdroplets or mist separated by the gas/liquid separator 137 by
spraying the cleaning liquid so that the microdroplets or mist
having a larger size and having captured the harmful substances,
may efficiently fall to the bottom of the postprocessor housing 131
or may flow down along the inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor
housing 131.
[0212] The droplet blocker 139 blocks droplets rising along the
inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor housing 131 and flowing out
through the postprocessed gas outlet 1313. Referring to FIGS. 14,
24, and 25, the drop blocker 139 includes a blocking wall 1391. In
addition, the droplet blocker 139 has a capturing space 1392 for
capturing the droplets in the vicinity of the postprocessed gas
outlet 1313 to prevent outflow of the droplets. The capturing space
1392 is shaped so as to allow the captured droplets to drop to the
bottom.
[0213] The postprocessed gas outlet 1313 is formed in an upward
direction at the top of the postprocessor housing 131, and the
droplet blocker 139 includes the blocking wall 1391 extending down
from the edge of the postprocessed gas outlet 1313. A capturing
space 1392 is formed between the blocking wall 1391 and the inner
wall of the upper portion of the postprocessor housing 131. The
inner wall 1311 of the upper portion of the postprocessor housing
131 is inclined to converge toward the postprocessed gas outlet,
and the blocking wall 1391 extends down in the vertical direction
in order to effectively form the capturing space 1392 and
efficiently block the outflow of the droplets.
[0214] Harmful substances are further removed from the preprocessed
gas while the preprocessed gas rises along the flow path thereof
formed inside the postprocessor 13, and the postprocessed gas
obtained as a result of the removal of the harmful substances is
discharged through the postprocessed gas outlet 1313. During the
process, some of the droplets including the cleaning liquid
capturing the harmful substances in the preprocessed gas rise along
the inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor housing 131 and move
toward the postprocessed gas outlet 1313.
[0215] The droplets reaching the vicinity of the edge of the
postprocessed gas outlet 1313 along the upper inner wall 1311 of
the postprocessor housing 131 are caught by the blocking wall 1391.
In addition, since the capturing space 1392 is formed between the
blocking wall 1391 and the inner wall 1311 of the postprocessor
housing 131 around the postprocessed gas outlet 1313 for
aggregating the droplets, the droplets aggregate in the capturing
space 1392 to increase the size and weight thereof, thereby falling
to the bottom of the postprocessor housing 131.
[0216] As described above, the droplet blocker 139 blocks droplets
having captured harmful substances in the preprocessed gas from
being discharged to the outside through the postprocessed gas
outlet 1313 and facilitates separation of the droplets and falling
thereof to the bottom of the postprocessor housing 131.
[0217] Next, an exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b according to a
second embodiment will be described.
[0218] Referring to FIG. 26, the exhaust gas containing harmful
substances, such as sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrous oxides (NOx),
particulate matter (hereinafter, referred to as "PM"), and the
like, flows from an engine or a boiler to an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1b according to a second embodiment. The exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1b according to the second embodiment may
include a housing 171 provided with a plurality of means for
reducing the harmful substances in stages.
[0219] Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, the housing 171 may be in the
form of a large hollow container having any of various shapes, but
generally a cylindrical housing 171 is provided. The housing 171
may have an inner wall 1711 forming the outer shape of the housing
171 on the side thereof, a gas inlet 1712 formed at the lower
portion of the housing 171, through which exhaust gas is
introduced, a cleaning liquid outlet 1715 through which the sprayed
cleaning liquid is discharged, and a gas outlet 1713 provided at
the top of the housing 171, through which the exhaust gas is
discharged.
[0220] The inner wall 1711 may include a vertical surface 1711a
extending straight in the vertical direction and an inclined
surface 1711b extending from the vertical surface 1711a so as to be
inclined toward the center in the vicinity of the gas outlet 1713.
The cleaning liquid introduced from a sprayer 173, which will be
described later, may flow up along the inner wall 1711 according to
the flow of exhaust gas.
[0221] The gas inlet 1712 may include a gas inlet pipe 1712a that
protrudes to the inside of the housing 171 and leads to one side of
a diffuser 172, which will be described later. The gas inlet 1712
may be configured as any of various forms, and in general may be
configured as a hollow cylinder that functions as a passage through
which exhaust gas is introduced.
[0222] The cleaning liquid, washing harmful substances, flows down
and is discharged to the outside of the housing 171 through the
cleaning liquid outlet 1715. The cleaning liquid outlet 1715 may
include a cleaning liquid discharge pipe 1715a extending downwards
from one side of the bottom of the housing 171 by a predetermined
length, which is generally formed in a hollow cylinder for
discharging the cleaning liquid. In the case where the housing 171
is installed in a ship, the cleaning liquid accumulated at one side
can be effectively discharged according to rolling in which the
ship tilts from side to side and pitching in which the ship tilts
forwards and backwards even if the bottom thereof is not provided
sloped.
[0223] The clean gas from which harmful substances have been
removed in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b according to the
second embodiment may be discharged into the air through the gas
outlet 1713. The gas outlet 1713 has a big opening to discharge the
clean gas therethrough, which may be connected to a droplet blocker
178, which will be described later, so as to block droplets rising
along the inner wall 1711.
[0224] Next, various means for cleaning the exhaust gas introduced
into the housing 171 of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b in
stages and ultimately discharging the clean gas from which sulfur
oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) are removed will be
described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 56.
[0225] First, referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1b may include a diffuser 172 provided above
the gas inlet 1712 and distributing the exhaust gas evenly inside
the housing 171, a sprayer 173 for spraying cleaning liquid to the
diffuser 172, a distributor 174 for dispersing the exhaust gas over
the sprayer 173, a multi-sprayer 175 provided above the distributor
174 and including a plurality of sprayers arranged parallel to each
other, a droplet separator 176 provided above the multi-sprayer 175
and inducing a spiral flow of exhaust gas, a droplet collector 177
for collecting separated droplets under the droplet separator 176,
and a droplet blocker 178 for dropping the droplets rising along
the inner wall 1711 in the vicinity of the gas outlet 1713.
[0226] Referring to FIGS. 29 to 32, the diffuser 172 may have a
function of evenly dispersing the exhaust gas introduced through
the gas inlet 1712 in the housing 171, and may include a gas
diffuser 1721 having a shape that gets wider as it goes upwards and
a discharge path 1722 for discharging the cleaning liquid
accumulated inside the gas diffuser 1721 without disturbing the
flow of the exhaust gas.
[0227] Referring to FIGS. 29 and 30, the gas diffuser 1721 may
include thin inner and outer surfaces 1721a and 1721b, which are
shaped such that the diameters thereof increases as it goes upwards
and have a space therebetween, a rim 1721c constituting a boundary
of the two surfaces 1721a and 1721b, and a blocking part 1721d
extending toward the outside of the gas diffuser 1721 along the
circumference of the outer surface 1721b.
[0228] The outer surface 1721b has a function by which the exhaust
gas introduced through the gas inlet 1712 flows up along the outer
surface 1721b to then be widely dispersed inside the housing
171.
[0229] The prior art is also equipped with a gas diffuser provided
above the gas inlet, but the gas diffuser of the prior art has a
shape that gets narrower as it goes upwards so that falling
cleaning liquid flows down along the surface of the gas diffuser to
disturb the flow of the exhaust gas. As a result, this causes
pressure loss of the exhaust gas, thereby degrading the overall
function of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus. In addition, the
conventional gas diffuser usually has a triangular pyramidal or
cone shape that gets narrower as it goes upwards. In this case, the
exhaust gas introduced through the gas inlet collides with and
bypasses the bottom surface of the cone and spreads widely inside
the housing, thereby forming upward flow, which causes severe
pressure loss. Although the pressure loss per unit height (mmAq/m)
of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus is important enough to
quantify and use as an indicator to represent the performance
thereof, the pressure loss due to the conventional gas diffuser
having the above configuration is enormous.
[0230] Therefore, since the gas diffuser 1721 according to the
present disclosure has a shape that gets wider as it goes upwards
and since the exhaust gas introduced through the gas inlet 1712
gradually disperses while flowing up along the outer surface 1721b
of the gas diffuser 1721, the exhaust gas can be widely distributed
inside the housing 171 without pressure loss. In particular, the
gas diffuser 1721 has a shape that gets wider as it goes upwards,
and may, preferably, have an inverted cone shape.
[0231] The inner surface 1721a may collect the cleaning liquid
sprayed from the sprayer 173, which will be described later, and
flowing down, and may not disturb the flow of the exhaust gas
flowing up along the outer surface 1721b of the gas diffuser 1721,
thereby preventing pressure loss.
[0232] The blocking part 1721d may be configured to extend outwards
along the circumference of the outer surface 1721b so as to be
positioned under the rim 1721c, and may include a first surface
1721d-1 extending horizontally and a second surface 1721d-2
extending vertically.
[0233] FIG. 31 illustrates the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b
used in a ship in the state of pitching in which the ship tilts
backwards and forwards due to waves, or rolling, in which the ship
tilts from side to side when turning or the like. In this case, the
housing 171 also tilts backwards and forwards or side to side, and
if the gas diffuser 1721 tilts along with the housing 171 to the
extent that the outer surface 1721b thereof deviates from the
vertical line, the cleaning liquid sprayed from the sprayer 173,
which will be described later, may flow into the gas inlet 1712. If
the cleaning liquid flowing into the gas inlet 1712 flows back into
the engine (E) or the boiler (B), there is a risk of causing
serious problems such as failure. Therefore, in order to prevent
the above problem, the blocking part 1721d should be designed to
have a size determined in consideration of the size of the vessel,
rolling and pitching angles, and the like. More specifically, the
degree of outward protrusion of the blocking part 1721d from the
outer surface 1721b may be adjusted by changing the length of the
first surface 1721d-1 and the length of the second surface 1721d-2,
thereby preventing backflow of the cleaning liquid into the gas
inlet 1712 even when the ship is tilted. In this case, the angle at
which the outer surface 1721b extends is also preferably designed
in consideration of rolling and pitching.
[0234] In addition, the blocking part 1721d may be configured such
that the cleaning liquid accumulated in the blocking part 1721d
drops to the bottom of the housing 171, instead of flowing into the
gas inlet 1712, when the rolling or pitching occurs. To this end,
the extension angle of the second surface 1721d-2 is designed in
consideration of rolling and pitching.
[0235] The discharge path 1722 is configured to discharge the
cleaning liquid collected on the inner surface 1721a of the gas
diffuser 1721 to the bottom of the housing 171 in order to prevent
the cleaning liquid from overflowing, and is configured to lead to
the inner surface 1721a at the lower portion of the gas diffuser
1721. In this case, the discharge path 1722 may be formed to extend
to the inside of the gas inlet pipe 1712a, which is formed by the
gas inlet 1712 protruding and extending into the housing 171, and
may include a discharge outlet 1722a leading to the inner surface
of the gas inlet pipe 1712a for discharge of the cleaning liquid.
In this case, the discharge path 1722 is inclined so as to extend
from the lower end of the gas diffuser 1721 to the inner surface of
the gas inlet pipe 1712a so that the discharge outlet 1722a may be
formed at one side of the gas inlet pipe 1712a.
[0236] The cleaning liquid discharged from the discharge path 1722
accumulates at the bottom of the housing 171, and the accumulated
cleaning liquid is discharged to the outside of the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1b through the cleaning liquid outlet 1715
extending down from one side of the bottom of the housing 171 at a
predetermined angle. At this time, even if the cleaning liquid
outlet 1715 is formed in one side of the bottom of the housing 171,
and even if there is no separate inclined surface thereon, since
the overall housing 171 is tilted due to pitching in which the ship
tilts backwards and forwards due to waves or
acceleration/deceleration during the travelling of the ship, or
rolling, in which the ship tilts from side to side when turning or
the like, the cleaning liquid can be effectively discharged,
thereby preventing excessive accumulation of the cleaning liquid at
the bottom. Tilting of the housing 171 can be seen in more detail
in FIG. 31.
[0237] Referring to FIG. 32, it can be seen that the above
configuration allows the cleaning liquid collected by the inner
surface 1721a of the gas diffuser 1721 to drop without affecting
the flow of the exhaust gas passing through the gas inlet pipe
1712a, thereby preventing the pressure loss thereof (see the dotted
line), and allows the exhaust gas to naturally disperse inside the
housing 171 without the pressure loss caused by the structure (see
the solid line).
[0238] Referring to FIGS. 33 to 36, the sprayer 173 has a function
of cleaning the exhaust gas containing sulfur oxides (SOx) and PM
by spraying cleaning liquid thereon from the upper side of the
diffuser 172. In particular, the sprayer 173 may include one or
more lateral sprayers 1731 for spraying the cleaning liquid in the
direction crossing the flow direction of the exhaust gas.
[0239] Referring to FIG. 33, the lateral sprayer 1731 may include a
spray body 1731a and a spray nozzle 1731b for spraying cleaning
liquid to the exhaust gas.
[0240] The spray body 1731a is a rod-shaped supply pipe for
supplying cleaning liquid and is coupled to the inner wall 1711 of
the housing 171. In the case of a cylindrical housing 171, the
spray bodies 1731a may also be arranged in a circular pattern. In
particular, if the spray body 1731a is located in a space formed to
be recessed by a predetermined depth to the outside from the inner
wall 1711, it is possible to prevent pressure loss attributable to
the structure in which that the sprayer 1731 itself disturbs the
flow of the exhaust gas.
[0241] The spray nozzle 1731b is formed at one end of the spray
body 1731a to face the side surface of the housing and sprays the
cleaning liquid toward the side surface.
[0242] The exhaust gas produced by combustion inside the engine (E)
or the boiler (B) contains harmful substances, such as sulfur
oxides (SOx), PM, and the like, which are acidic substances, and
the sprayer 173 sprays cleaning liquid in order to remove the
harmful substances by neutralizing or aggregating the same. In
general, PM of 0.1 to 0.5 .mu.m first agglomerates with
microdroplets of 100 to 200 .mu.m to become bigger in size. In
addition, alkaline cleaning liquid is required in order to
neutralize acidic sulfur oxides (SOx). In the case of using fresh
water, separate alkaline additives are added to induce a
neutralization reaction.
[0243] In this case, the alkaline additives may be NaOH (sodium
hydroxide), Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 (sodium carbonate), NaHCO.sup.3
(sodium bicarbonate), and the like. The neutralization reaction of
sulfur oxides (SOx) by the cleaning liquid with NaOH added thereto
is as follows.
SO.sub.2(g)+2NaOH.sub.(aq)+(1/2)O.sub.2(g).fwdarw.2Na.sup.++SO.sub.4.sup-
.2-+H.sub.2O
[0244] However, in the case where the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1b is installed in a ship travelling on the sea,
seawater, which is brine, may be used. In general, seawater
contains salts, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), magnesium chloride
(MgCl.sup.2), potassium chloride (KCl), and the like, and exhibits
slight alkalinity of pH 7.8 to 8.3 due to anions Cl-,
SO.sub.4.sup.2-, Br-, and the like, which are produced by
dissolving of the salts. Therefore, if such seawater is used as
cleaning liquid, it is possible to neutralize sulfur oxides (SOx)
without adding separate alkaline additives.
[0245] In this case, the neutralization reaction by seawater is as
follows. First, sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) in a gaseous state is
mixed with water.
SO.sub.2(g)+H.sub.2O.sub.(l)H.sub.2SO.sub.3(aq)
[0246] Next, it reacts with a base in seawater.
2H.sub.2SO.sub.3(aq)+OH.sup.-2HSO.sub.3.sub.-.sub.(aq)+H.sup.+.sub.(aq)+-
H.sub.2O.sub.(aq)
2HS.sub.2SO.sub.3.sub.-.sub.(aq)+OH.sup.-.sub.(aq)2SO.sub.3.sup.2-(aq)+H-
.sup.+.sub.(aq)+H.sub.2O.sub.(aq)
[0247] In other words, sulfur dioxides are absorbed into the
seawater to form sulfates.
[0248] The sprayer may spray two fluids, which further contain
compressed air in addition to the cleaning liquid including
seawater or fresh water, to disperse the cleaning liquid inside the
housing 171, thereby increasing the contact area between the
cleaning liquid and the exhaust gas and improving cleaning
efficiency.
[0249] In addition, the cleaning liquid and the compressed air may
have a function of lowering the temperature of the exhaust gas, as
well as cleaning harmful substances such as sulfur oxides (SOx),
PM, or the like in the exhaust gas, thereby cooling the exhaust
gas. In general, the exhaust gas produced as a byproduct of
combustion in the engine (E) and the boiler (B) is a high
temperature gas having a temperature of about 250 to 300 degrees C.
at the time of entering the housing 171. If the high-temperature
exhaust gas is released into the air without treatment, it may
cause many problems, and the high-temperature exhaust gas may also
cause heat injury to various components in the housing 171 or may
impede a cleaning operation due to quick evaporation of the
cleaning liquid, and the like. In addition, even if the cleaning
liquid is sprayed, the PM may pass without aggregation at a high
temperature. Therefore, the sprayer 173 cools the high-temperature
exhaust gas introduced into the housing 171 through the gas inlet
1712 down to about 50 to 60 degrees C. by spraying a double-fluid,
which is a mixture of seawater or fresh water and compressed air,
to the same.
[0250] The function of the sprayer 173 described above may be more
effective if the contact area and contact time with the exhaust gas
are increased. However, existing sprayers of the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus spray the cleaning liquid in the same direction
as the flow direction of the exhaust gas, thereby providing a small
contact area and a short contact time. Therefore, it is impossible
to perform an effective cleaning operation and cooling operation
using the conventional sprayers.
[0251] In addition, since the exhaust gas treatment apparatus for
cleaning and cooling sulfur oxides (SOx) and PM is 5 m or more in
height, although there is no problem installing the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus in a power plant on land, if the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus is installed in a ship, the large volume
thereof may limit ship design, and may spoil the appearance of the
ship. However, since the sprayer according to the prior art sprays
the cleaning liquid parallel to the flow direction of the exhaust
gas, in order to secure a sufficient contact area between the
cleaning liquid and the exhaust gas, the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus has to be made longer.
[0252] In many cases of the prior art, the sprayer sprays the
cleaning liquid from the top to the bottom against the flow of the
exhaust gas. In this case, the forward flow of the exhaust gas is
obstructed, causing severe pressure loss. As described above, the
pressure loss of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus is important
enough to be quantified (unit: mmAq/m) and used as an indicator to
represent the performance thereof, but the prior art faces many
obstacles in reducing the pressure loss.
[0253] However, as can be seen in FIGS. 33 to 35, the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1b includes the lateral sprayers 1731 inside
the housing 171 so as to spray the cleaning liquid and the
compressed air from the side relative to the flow of the exhaust
gas so that a sufficient contact area and contact time between the
exhaust gas and the cleaning liquid may be secured without
increasing the length of the housing 171, thereby facilitating the
neutralization reaction of sulfur oxides (SOx), aggregation of PM,
and the cooling reaction of all of the exhaust gas. In particular,
if the lateral sprayers are installed below an inclined portion
1741 of the distributor 174, which will be described later, it is
possible to actively mix the exhaust gas with the cleaning liquid
by spraying the cleaning liquid to the point where a vortex is
formed. Furthermore, when the temperature is lowered by the above
cooling, the air shrinks, and thus the volume thereof is reduced,
thereby causing the PM particles to aggregate and become bigger. In
addition, since force is applied from the side, there is no
pressure loss in the flow direction of the exhaust gas. Preferably,
the cleaning liquid is sprayed in a direction perpendicular to the
flow direction of the exhaust gas.
[0254] In addition, referring to FIG. 36, it is possible to
maximize the contact area with the exhaust gas and the contact time
thereof by distributing the two liquids, that is, the cleaning
liquid and the compressed air, in a conical shape, thereby
increasing operation efficiency.
[0255] Referring to FIGS. 37 to 40, the distributor 174 is
positioned above the sprayer 173 and is configured as a mesh
structure including a plurality of small through-holes 174a. The
distributor 174 may include an inclined portion 1741 inclined to
one side and a guide portion 1742 extending down from the bottom of
the inclined portion 1741.
[0256] Referring to FIGS. 37 and 38, the inclined portion 1741 has
a shape such that the diameter thereof increases as it goes
upwards, which is intended to attract the flow of exhaust gas to
the center and to form a vortex flow under the inclined portion
1741, thereby mixing the exhaust gas with the cleaning liquid.
[0257] The exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b is required to evenly
distribute the exhaust gas inside the housing 171 in order to
increase the contact area and the contact time between the cleaning
liquid and the exhaust gas for effective reaction thereof. The
exhaust gas passing through the diffuser 172 tends to flow up to be
deflected toward the inner wall 1711 of the housing 171 due to the
influence of the inverted conical gas diffuser 1721. Therefore, in
order to return the upward flow of the exhaust gas deflected to the
inner wall 1711 to the center, the distributor 174 is configured to
have a plurality of small through-holes 174a and an overall shape
that gets wider as it goes upwards. This configuration causes the
exhaust gas, which flows upwards while being deflected to the inner
wall 1711 of the housing 171, to change its flow to the center by
passing through the plurality of through-holes 174a inclined
downwards and toward the center, and to then be dispersed. In
addition, some of the exhaust gas that has failed to move up
through the through-holes 174a collides with the lower surface of
the inclined portion 1741 and is diverted downwards to generate a
vortex flow so that the cleaning liquid and the exhaust gas may be
mixed and a neutralization reaction of sulfur oxides (SOx) and the
aggregation reaction of PM may be actively performed, thereby
improving the cleaning effect.
[0258] Referring to FIGS. 37 and 39, the guide portion 1742 has a
large inlet opening 1742a in the center thereof and has an empty
structure through which a large amount of exhaust gas may pass.
[0259] Although the above-described inclined portion 1741 has an
effect of attracting the exhaust gas flowing on the side of the
inner wall 1711 to the center, the large inlet opening 1742a is
provided in the center of the distributor 174 to ensure more
effective functional operation. The above configuration may
uniformly distribute the exhaust gas, whirling and diverted under
the inclined portion 1741, toward the center, thereby improving
cleaning efficiency. In addition, the vertical guide portion 1742
guides the flow of exhaust gas in order to improve the above
distribution effect. The flow of the exhaust gas is illustrated in
FIG. 41.
[0260] Referring to FIGS. 41 to 44, the multi-sprayer 175 is
located above the distributor 174 and includes a plurality of
sprayers arranged in the vertical direction.
[0261] Referring to FIG. 42, the multi-sprayer 175 may include a
first sprayer 1751, a second sprayer 1752, and a third sprayer
1753.
[0262] Referring to FIG. 43, the first sprayer 1751 may include a
rod-type spray body 1751a, a plurality of spray rods 1751b
branching side by side from the spray body 1751a at a predetermined
interval, and a plurality of spray nozzles 1751c formed at a
predetermined interval on the respective spray rods 1751b.
[0263] The spray body 1751a is a supply pipe for supplying cleaning
liquid from the outside and is coupled to the inner wall 1711 of
the housing 171.
[0264] The spray rod 1751b may branch from the spray body 1751a to
spray the cleaning liquid to a larger space, and may be arranged
alternately with the spray rods 1752b of the second sprayer 1752,
thereby maximizing the contact area with the exhaust gas. In
addition, it is possible to prevent harmful substances from being
released into the air by eliminating a dead zone of the exhaust
gas.
[0265] A plurality of spray nozzles 1751c is provided at
predetermined positions of the spray rod 1751b to spray a mixture
of the cleaning liquid and the compressed air.
[0266] Referring to FIG. 44, the second sprayer 1752 also includes
a spray body 1752a, spray rods 1752b, and spray nozzles 1752c, and
the spray rods 1752b are alternately arranged as described above.
This configuration may maximize the contact area between the
cleaning liquid sprayed by the respective sprayers and the exhaust
gas, so that the neutralization reaction of sulfur oxides (SOx) and
the aggregation reaction of PM may be effectively performed.
[0267] In addition, the first sprayer 1751 and the second sprayer
1752 may be selectively operated according to the operation state
of the engine (E), the boiler (B), or the like. In this case, a
controller 1754 may be further included for selective spraying so
as to flexibly control the spray in response to the driving state
of the engine or the boiler.
[0268] In general, the operation of the engine (E) used in ships
constantly changes according to the case where the ship is
accelerating or decelerating, where a drilling machine is operated
for seabed drilling, or where the use of the power system is
increased. In addition, the operation of the boiler (B) also varies
depending on time, such as on hot summer days, on which the boiler
is rarely used, cold winter days, on which the boiler is frequently
used to maintain the body temperature of the crews and control the
cargo temperature, or the like. The change in the operation state
of the engine (E) or the boiler (B) described above means that the
amount of fuel combustion changes. In addition, the change in the
amount of fuel combustion changes the amount of exhaust gas
produced by combustion of the fuel. As a result, if the amount of
exhaust gas changes, the amount of harmful substances, such as
sulfur oxides (SOx), PM, and the like, also changes.
[0269] However, if the amount of the cleaning liquid sprayed by the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b is constant even in the case
where the amount of exhaust gas decreases, it means that excessive
cleaning liquid is sprayed. A pump is required to be operated in
order to spray the cleaning liquid, and unnecessary spraying wastes
the power consumed by the pump. In addition, unlike the case of
spraying the cleaning liquid using seawater of about pH 8.3, which
is slightly alkaline, the cleaning liquid using fresh water
requires alkaline additives. Thus, if excessive cleaning liquid is
sprayed, the alkaline additives are also wasted. Therefore, it is
necessary to adjust the amount of cleaning liquid spray depending
on the amount of exhaust gas, which varies depending on the
operation state of the engine (E) or boiler (B).
[0270] In order to solve the above problems, the multi-sprayer 175
of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b selectively operates the
first sprayer 1751 or the second sprayer 1752 according to the
operation rate of the engine (E) or the boiler (B), thereby
spraying the cleaning liquid. According to the above configuration,
in the case where a small amount of exhaust gas is discharged, only
some of the sprayers are operated to spray the cleaning liquid,
thereby preventing waste of power for the operation of the pump and
saving alkaline additives.
[0271] In addition, the multi-sprayer 175 further includes a third
sprayer 1753 above the first sprayer 1751 and the second sprayer
1752, thereby efficiently cleaning harmful substances in the
exhaust gas.
[0272] In this case, similar to the relationship between the first
sprayer 1751 and the second sprayer 1752, the third sprayer 1753 is
alternately disposed with the second sprayer 1752, thereby
increasing the contact area between the cleaning liquid and the
exhaust gas and more effectively inducing the neutralization
reaction of sulfur oxides (SOx) and the aggregation of PM.
[0273] In addition, the third sprayer 1753 also operates
selectively in response to the amount of exhaust gas, which varies
depending on the operation rate of the engine (E) or the boiler
(B), to prevent waste of power of the pump for supplying the
cleaning liquid and to save alkaline additives.
[0274] The first sprayer 1751, the second sprayer 1752, and the
third sprayer 1753 may be configured to spray a double fluid
containing cleaning liquid including seawater or fresh water and
compressed air faster and over a wider area such that the double
fluid reaches far, thereby increasing the contact time and the
contact area of the sulfur oxides (SOx) and the cleaning liquid for
an effective neutralization reaction. In addition, the cooling
operation by the compressed air may be performed more
effectively.
[0275] Referring to FIGS. 45 to 52, the droplet separator 176 is
located above the multi-sprayer 175, and is roughly divided into
two types.
[0276] Referring to FIG. 45, the first type of droplet separator
may include a guide part 1761 for guiding the flow of the exhaust
gas flowing up while being cleaned by the cleaning liquid, one or
more horizontal blades 1762a making a spiral flow of the exhaust
gas flowing up through the guide part 1761, a cap 1764 for blocking
the flow of the exhaust gas above/under the blades 1762a and
guiding the exhaust gas to flow in a predetermined direction, and a
first negative-pressure prevention means 1763a for preventing the
differential pressure on the upper side of the horizontal blades
1762a.
[0277] Referring to FIG. 49, the second type of droplet separator
may include a guide part 1761 for guiding the flow of the exhaust
gas flowing up while being cleaned by the cleaning liquid, one or
more torsion blades 1762b for making a spiral flow of the exhaust
gas flowing up through the guide part 1761, and a second
negative-pressure prevention means 1763b for preventing the
differential pressure on the upper side and the lateral side of the
torsion blades 1762b.
[0278] Referring to FIGS. 45, 46, 49, and 50, the guide part 1761,
which is an element common to both types, may include a guide plate
1761a having a shape that gets narrower as it goes upwards and a
guide pipe 1761b extending up from the top of the guide plate
1761a.
[0279] The guide plate 1761a is preferably formed in the shape of a
hollow truncated cone, and has a function of guiding the exhaust
gas flowing up through the multi-sprayer 175 to the center. In this
case, the guide plate 1761a may have a circumference corresponding
to the cross section of the housing 171 so as to hermetically and
snugly fit the inner wall 1711 thereof, thereby guiding the exhaust
gas to one side without leakage of the exhaust gas.
[0280] The guide pipe 1761b may be formed to extend upwards from
the top of the guide plate 1761a so as to serve as a passage
through which the exhaust gas guided to one side by the guide plate
1761a flows upwards and to this end, may be configured in a hollow
cylindrical shape.
[0281] Referring to FIG. 46, one or more horizontal blades 1762a of
the first type of droplet separator are arranged to stand side by
side on the lower plate 1764b, which will be described later, and
each blade has a predetermined curvature. In addition, the
horizontal blades 1762a are spaced a predetermined distance apart
from each other so as to allow the exhaust gas to pass
therebetween. The horizontal blades 1762a having the above shape
induces a radial flow, in which the exhaust gas moving up through
the guide pipe 1761b flows in a spiral pattern to the side.
[0282] The cleaning liquid sprayed from the multi-sprayer 175 is
present in the form of small droplets in the exhaust gas while
containing a large amount of harmful substances such as sulfur
oxides (SOx), PM, and the like. Therefore, the cleaning liquid must
be prevented from being discharged along with the exhaust gas to
the atmosphere. To this end, the blades 1762a induces a spiral flow
of the exhaust gas, and the relatively heavy droplets are moved
outwards to the inner wall 1711 by the centrifugal force generated
by the spiral flow of the exhaust gas, so that the exhaust gas and
the droplets may be separated from each other.
[0283] In addition, all of the horizontal blades 1762a may include
stationary stators because, if the horizontal blades 1762a rotate
along with a compressor, the speed thereof is too high to obtain
sufficient contact time between the exhaust gas and the cleaning
liquid, thereby lowering cleaning efficiency.
[0284] The cap 1764 may include an upper plate 1764a and a lower
plate 1764b that cover upper and lower sides of the horizontal
blades 1762a, respectively, to prevent the exhaust gas from
escaping up and down without forming a spiral flow. In the case
where the horizontal blades 1762a are arranged in a circle, the
upper plate 1764a and the lower plate 1764b may be configured as a
circular plate.
[0285] If the exhaust gas is made to flow in a spiral pattern by
the blades 1762a, centrifugal force is applied to the fluid to be
directed to the inner wall 1711, so that the center of flow has a
relatively low pressure. In this case, the spiral flow may not be
appropriately formed due to the differential pressure, or the
upward movement of the exhaust gas may be hindered because the
pressure is lower than that of the air on the upper side.
Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the negative pressure by
placing a mass in the center of the spiral flow.
[0286] Accordingly, the first negative-pressure prevention means
1763a may be positioned above the horizontal blades 1762a so as to
prevent a differential pressure due to the spiral flow of the
exhaust gas, and preferably may have a conical shape on the upper
plate 1764a. The flow of the exhaust gas by the first
negative-pressure prevention means 1763a can be seen in FIG.
48.
[0287] Referring to FIGS. 49 and 51, one or more torsion blades
1762b are arranged on the outer surface of the guide pipe 1761b so
as to radially extend from the outer surface of the guide pipe
1761b toward the inner wall 1711 of the housing 171 by a
predetermined length. At this time, the torsion blade 1762 may be
configured in a twisted form overall such that the angle (stagger
angle "a") between the chord at the root in contact with the outer
surface of the guide pipe 1761b and the axis of the guide pipe
1761b is different from the angle (stagger angle "b") between the
chord at the tip and the axis of the guide pipe 1761b. In general,
the angle "b" is greater than the angle "a". The torsion blade
1762b twisted as described above guides an oblique flow in which
the air exiting the guide pipe 1761b spreads down in a spiral
pattern. Preferably, the stagger angle gradually increases as it
goes from the root to the tip, thereby more effectively guiding the
exhaust gas flow.
[0288] Referring to FIG. 51, the torsion blades 1762b are spaced
apart from each other so that a sufficient space is formed
therebetween when viewed from above, and, preferably, the torsion
blades 1762b may be arranged at an interval of 30 degrees. Thereby,
it is possible to minimize the pressure loss of the exhaust gas
exiting the guide pipe 1761b and to produce a spiral bypass flow.
In addition, all of the torsion blades 1762b may include stationary
stators because, if the torsion blades 1762b rotate along with a
compressor, the speed thereof is too high to obtain sufficient
contact time between the exhaust gas and the cleaning liquid,
thereby lowering cleaning efficiency.
[0289] The second negative-pressure prevention means 1763b may
extend to the bottom of the torsion blade 1762b so as to cover both
the torsion blades 1762b and the guide pipe 1761b, so that the
exhaust gas flowing up through the guide pipe 1761b may make a
detour and escape downwards. As a result, when the droplets of the
cleaning liquid containing harmful substances in the exhaust gas
are separated by centrifugal force, they are also forced downwards
so that effective separation is possible. The second
negative-pressure prevention means 1763b is formed in the form of a
hollow cylinder for the flow of exhaust gas, and preferably has a
cylindrical shape to effectively prevent the differential pressure.
Alternatively, a first negative-pressure prevention means 1763a in
a conical shape may be further provided on the second
negative-pressure prevention means 1763b. The spiral bypass flow of
the exhaust gas due to the above configuration is illustrated in
more detail in FIG. 52.
[0290] Referring to FIGS. 53 and 54, the droplet collector 177 may
be configured to collect droplets separated from the exhaust gas
under the droplet separator 176, and may include a partition plate
1771 surrounding the guide pipe 1761b and having the same shape as
the cross section of the housing 171, an inclined plate 1772 having
the same configuration as the guide plate or extending in parallel
thereto, a drop pipe 1773 extending downwards from one side of the
inclined plate 1772, and a collecting container 1774 located at the
lower end of the drop pipe 1773.
[0291] The droplet separator 176 is configured to separate droplets
from the exhaust gas and deflects cleaning liquid containing
harmful substances, such as sulfur oxides (SOx), PM, and the like,
to the inner wall 1711 by means of centrifugal force. The separated
droplets is required to drop to the bottom before rising again due
to the influence of the flow of the exhaust gas, and it is
necessary to prevent the exhaust gas from rising through the
passage in which the droplets drop.
[0292] Referring to FIGS. 47, 51, and 53, the partition plate 1771
includes a plurality of through-holes 1771a in the vicinity of the
circumference thereof, through which the droplets separated by the
droplet separator 176 drops. In the case where the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1b is installed in a ship, the droplets may
flow into the through-holes 1771a due to rolling and pitching of
the ship, even if the partition plate 1771 is not included.
[0293] The inclined plate 1772 extends to have a predetermined
inclination such that the droplets passing through the
through-holes 1771a in the partition plate 1771 may flow outwards,
and preferably has a conical shape. One or more drop holes 1773a
are provided at one side of the inclined plate 1772 to allow the
droplets flowing outwards to drop, and preferably, four drop holes
are provided at an interval of 90 degrees.
[0294] The drop pipe 1773 extends down from the drop hole 1772a
formed at one side of the inclined plate 1772 so as to drop the
droplets to the bottom of the housing 171. Although the drop pipe
1773 may have any of various shapes, the drop pipe 1773 preferably
has a cross section matching the drop hole 1772a. Since the drop
hole 1772a is configured in a triangle in the case of FIG. 29, the
drop pipe 1773 may also have the shape of a triangular prism.
[0295] Referring to FIGS. 53 and 54, the collecting container 1774
collects droplets dropping through the drop pipe 1773 and is
located below the third sprayer 1753 so as to always be full of the
sprayed cleaning liquid. In addition, if the drop pipe 1773 extends
to the inside of the collecting container 1774 such that the end
thereof is completely immersed in the cleaning liquid sprayed from
the third sprayer 1753, the exhaust gas is prevented from rising
along the drop pipe 1773 and being discharged without passing
through the droplet separator 176.
[0296] Referring to FIGS. 55 and 56, a droplet blocker 178 may
include a first blocker 1781 and a second blocker 1782 located
above the droplet separator 176 so as to block some of the droplets
separated from the exhaust gas and rising along the inner wall 1711
of the housing 171 under the influence of the flow of the exhaust
gas without falling down, thereby preventing the droplets
containing harmful substances from being discharged into the
air.
[0297] Since the cleaning liquid including seawater or fresh water
sprayed from the sprayers 173 and 175 has a function of
neutralizing sulfur oxides (SOx) and aggregating PM, the cleaning
liquid droplets remaining in the upper portion of the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1b contain a number of harmful substances in
the exhaust gas. If the cleaning liquid droplets are discharged to
the atmosphere together with the cleaned exhaust gas, the exhaust
gas treatment apparatus 1b itself becomes meaningless. Thus, the
discharge of droplets into the air must be prevented.
[0298] To this end, the horizontal blades 1762a of the droplet
separator 176 induce spiral flow of the exhaust gas including the
cleaning liquid droplets, thereby deflecting the relatively heavy
liquid droplets toward the inner wall 1711 of the housing 171 using
centrifugal force. Alternatively, the torsion blades 1762b of the
droplet separator 176 bypass the exhaust gas downwards to induce
spiral flow so that the droplets are directed downwards and toward
the inner wall 1711 by centrifugal force. In addition, the droplets
of the cleaning liquid deflected to the inner wall 1711 drop down
due to gravity and are collected by the droplet collector 177 to
then fall to the bottom of the housing 171, thereby preventing the
discharge thereof to the atmosphere.
[0299] However, despite the droplet collector 177, some of the
droplets of the cleaning liquid separated by the droplet separator
176 may be deflected to the inner wall 1711 of the housing 171, and
may flow up along the inner wall 1711 of the housing 171 under the
influence of the flow of the exhaust gas rising due to the pressure
difference, instead of dropping. The droplets rising along the
inner wall 1711 as described above may reach the top of the housing
171, and may be discharged into the air. Thus, it is necessary to
prevent the discharge of harmful substances by blocking the
same.
[0300] Referring to FIG. 55, to this end, the inner wall 1711 may
include a vertical surface 1711a extending straight in the vertical
direction and an inclined surface 1711b extending from the vertical
surface 1711a so as to curve toward the center of the housing in
the vicinity of the gas outlet 1713. The inclined surface 1711b may
block the droplets rising along the vertical surface 1711a under
the influence of the exhaust gas to some extent. However, since the
exhaust gas changes its flow path to conform to the inclined
surface 1711b when the exhaust gas collides with the inclined
surface 1711b, the droplets affected by the exhaust gas may also
rise along the inclined surface 1711b to be discharged into the
air.
[0301] In order to prevent the above discharge, the first blocker
1781 may include a blocking wall 1781a extending down from one side
of the inclined surface 1711b. The blocking wall 1781a is provided
in the form of a thick strip along the boundary of the gas outlet
1713. In the case where the gas outlet 1713 is circular, the
blocking wall 1781a has a hollow cylindrical shape. According to
the above configuration, the droplets rising along the inner wall
1711 flows down along the blocking wall 1781a through the inclined
surface 1711b, and since there is no surface along which the
droplets can rise at the lower end of the blocking wall 1781a, the
droplets drop down. Preferably, the blocking wall 1781a may extend
in the direction in which gravity acts, thereby further improving
the blocking effect. The flow of droplets described above can be
seen in more detail in FIG. 56.
[0302] The second blocker 1782 may be positioned below the first
blocker 1781, and may include a downwardly inclined surface 1782b
and another blocking wall 1782a.
[0303] The downwardly inclined surface 1782b extends from one side
of the vertical surface 1711a of the housing 171 toward the center
thereof at a predetermined angle, and guides the droplets rising
along the vertical surface 1711a to the blocking wall 1782a. In
this case, it is preferable that the inclined surface be formed
downwards at an angle of more than 90 degrees for effective
guidance of the droplets.
[0304] The blocking wall 1782a extends downwards from the end of
the downwardly inclined surface 1782b, and preferably extends in
the direction in which gravity acts. The droplets moving down along
the downwardly inclined surface 1782b meet the blocking wall 1782a
and flow down in the vertical direction to then drop down at the
end of the blocking wall 1782a due to gravity because there is no
longer any surface along which the droplets may flow.
[0305] The two blockers 1781 and 1782 may prevent the droplets of
the cleaning liquid containing harmful substances, such as sulfur
oxide (SOx), PM, and the like, from being released into the air
together with the clean gas.
[0306] Based on the above-described configuration, a process in
which exhaust gas generated by combustion in an engine or a boiler
is processed into clean gas by removing harmful substances, such as
sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), and the like, while
passing through the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1b will be
described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28.
[0307] Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, exhaust gas enters the housing
171 through the gas inlet 1712. The exhaust gas meets the diffuser
172 above the gas inlet pipe 1712a to then be dispersed, and PM in
the exhaust gas is aggregated by the mixture of the cleaning liquid
sprayed from the sprayer 173 and the compressed air. At this time,
the exhaust gas forms a flow deflected toward the inner wall 1712
by the diffuser 172 and passes through the distributor 174 to be
evenly distributed to the center. The exhaust gas evenly
distributed throughout the cross section of the housing 171 causes
neutralization of sulfur oxides (SOx) and aggregation of PM by the
cleaning liquid sprayed from the multi-sprayer 175, and the spiral
flow formed by the droplet separator 176 allows the droplets to
move outwards to then be separated by centrifugal force. The
separated droplets drop from the droplet collector 177, and the
exhaust gas whirls in a spiral pattern and continues to rise.
[0308] However, some droplets that rise along the inner wall 1711
without falling due to the influence of the exhaust gas flow are
blocked by the blocker 178 and thus drop down, thereby preventing
the discharge of harmful substances into the air.
[0309] According to the above-described configuration and process,
the exhaust gas is processed into clean gas by separating harmful
substances, such as sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM),
and the like, and is released into the air.
[0310] Hereinafter, a method for removing noxious gas from the
cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
of the present disclosure will be described.
[0311] FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing
noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas
treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. Referring to FIG. 57, a method for removing noxious gas
from the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus includes a level measuring step S1 and a flow rate
adjustment step S2.
[0312] In the level measuring step S1, the level measuring unit 4
measures the level of the cleaning liquid in the noxious gas
removal unit 3 for removing noxious gas remaining in the gaseous
state in the cleaning liquid discharged from the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1, which receives the exhaust gas generated by
combustion, removes the noxious gas from the exhaust gas by
spraying cleaning liquid to the exhaust gas, and discharges the
sprayed cleaning liquid, and discharging the cleaning liquid from
which the gaseous noxious gas has been removed.
[0313] The configuration of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1
and the noxious gas removal unit 3, as well as the level measuring
unit 4, has been described in connection with the system for
removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged from the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure.
[0314] The level measuring step S1 may be performed in such a
manner that the level measuring unit 4 measures the level of the
cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit 3 on the basis of
the pressure in the noxious gas removal unit 3. In this case, the
level measuring unit 4 may include a pressure sensor (i.e., a
transducer) that detects a change in pressure according to a change
in the level of the cleaning liquid inside the noxious gas removal
unit 3, an amplifier for amplifying an electrical signal
transmitted from the transducer, a connector for connecting the
amplifier with the transducer, and the like. As described above,
the level measuring unit 4 is not limited to the above pressure
measurement method, and other methods, such as ultrasonic
measurement, may be applied thereto.
[0315] In the flow rate adjustment step S2, the flow rate regulator
5 adjusts the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid in the noxious
gas removal unit 3 on the basis of the result of measurement of the
level measuring unit 4. The configuration of the flow rate
regulator 5 has also been described in connection with the system
for removing noxious gas from the cleaning liquid discharged from
the exhaust gas treatment apparatus of the present disclosure.
[0316] The flow rate adjustment step S2 is preferably performed in
such a manner that the flow rate regulator 5 adjusts the discharge
rate of the cleaning liquid in real time such that the level of the
cleaning liquid in the noxious gas removal unit 3 falls within a
predetermined range. This is due to the fact that the level of the
cleaning liquid remaining in the noxious gas removal unit 3 may be
maintained at a level suitable for removal of the noxious gas in
this manner.
[0317] To this end, the flow rate regulator 5 may include a
controller connected to the level measuring unit 4 by circuits or
by wired/wireless communication and regulation means for adjusting
the discharge rate of the noxious gas removal unit 3 under the
control of the controller, and a throttle valve may be applied as
the regulation means.
[0318] FIG. 58 is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing
noxious gas from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas
treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure. Referring to FIG. 58, a method for removing noxious gas
from cleaning liquid discharged from an exhaust gas treatment
apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure
includes a level determining step S3 and a countermeasure step S4
in addition to the level measuring step S1 and the flow rate
adjustment step S2.
[0319] The level determining step S3, in which the level determiner
6 determines whether or not the level of the cleaning liquid
remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1, which is to
move to the noxious gas removal unit 3, reaches a predetermined
threshold level, is performed after or at the same time as the flow
rate adjustment step S2.
[0320] Since the discharge rate of the cleaning liquid of the
noxious gas removal unit 3 is appropriately adjusted through the
level measuring step S1 and the flow rate adjustment step S2, the
level of the cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
1 may also be generally maintained at an appropriate level.
However, if the cleaning liquid is not appropriately discharged
through the noxious gas removal unit 3 due to malfunction of at
least one of the noxious gas removal unit 3, the level measuring
unit 4, and the flow rate regulator 5 in the level measuring step
S1 and the flow rate adjustment step S2, and if the level of the
cleaning liquid exceeds a threshold level in the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus 1 according thereto, the durability or
performance of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 may be
degraded. The level determining step S3 is intended to prevent this
problem.
[0321] In the level determining step S3, the level determiner 6
serves to determine whether or not the level of the cleaning liquid
remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1, which is to
move to the noxious gas removal unit 3, reaches a predetermined
threshold level. The level determiner 6 may include a level switch
that is provided at a position at which it is possible to measure
the level of the cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment
apparatus 1, and if the level of the cleaning liquid exceeds a
predetermined level, gives notification thereof.
[0322] In the countermeasure step S4, if the level of the cleaning
liquid remaining in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1, which is
to move to the noxious gas removal unit 3, reaches a predetermined
threshold level as a result of a determination by the level
determiner 6, the countermeasure unit 7 may perform at least one of
generation of a danger warning and control so as to stop spraying
of the cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
1.
[0323] The countermeasure step S4 may be performed in such a manner
that the countermeasure unit 7 generates a danger warning through
visible and audible means or stops the overall operation of the
exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 in order to interrupt the spray
of cleaning liquid in the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1. The
countermeasure unit 7 may include a controller that is connected to
the level determiner 6 through circuits or wired/wireless
communication and generates a warning or controls the exhaust gas
treatment apparatus or the like. Through the countermeasure step
S4, it is possible to prevent deterioration of durability or
failure of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus 1 due to the
backflow of the cleaning liquid.
[0324] Although the applicant has described various embodiments of
the present disclosure above, these embodiments are merely examples
for implementing the technical concept of the present disclosure,
and any changes or modifications thereof should be construed as
falling within the scope of the present disclosure as long as the
technical concept of the present disclosure is implemented.
* * * * *