Foam Formation in the Absorber during the Wet Flue Desulphurization Process

Abstract

The work summarizes the findings associated with the formation of foam in the wet limestone method of flue gas desulphurization from the combustion of hard coal in a boiler with an installed capacity of 200 MW. It was the formation of foam at the level of the absorber, which caused operational problems in the absorber and in the subsequent droplet separator and heat exchanger. The rotation of the flue gas flow above the level of the absorber suspension by 180° was also significantly applied here. There is a constriction at the turning point, in which the gradual velocity of the flue gases accelerates, which is also influenced by their inertia and the actual shape of the absorber. Of the foam-forming substances present in the absorption media, long fatty acids, monoesters of phthalic acid, arylsulfonic acids, bitumen acids, and long fatty alcohols were identified.