Virtual Sorbent Beds: Novel In-Flight Adsorption of Mercury from Coal Combustion

0607292 Clack本项目将研究一种称为虚拟吸附床（VSB）的新型汞排放控制工艺的开发。该研究旨在阐明湍流中颗粒-气体传递的基本机制，并开发一种新的控制系统，用于控制燃烧气体流中的汞排放。该项目整合了实验和建模方法，以获得湍流中气体-颗粒传质的新知识，用于设计有效的除汞工艺。该项目并没有改善吸附剂的特性，而是试图增加汞从大体积气流到吸附剂表面的传质。如果该项目取得成功，它将成为汞控制的一种经济替代品，而无需进行昂贵的改造。主要研究者和共同主要研究者具有开展研究的背景和资格。拟议工作的潜在惠益很高，因为燃煤发电厂的汞排放是汞的重要来源，电力行业正面临减少汞排放的重大监管要求。现有排放控制技术的成本很高。该项目将通过IIT的一个名为Engineering Collectives的项目为学生提供研究机会，该项目将3-6名学生（高中生，本科生和研究生）的研究团队整合在一起，以探索一个研究课题。

0607292ClackThis project will investigate the development of a novel mercury emissions control process called a virtual sorbent bed (VSB). The study aims to elucidate fundamental mechanisms of particle-gas transfer in turbulent flows and develop a novel control system for mercury emissions from combustion gas streams using the VSB. The project integrates experimental and modeling methods to obtain new knowledge of gas-particle mass transfer in turbulent flows to use in designing an effective mercury removal process. Instead of improving the characteristics of the sorbent, this project seeks to increase the mass transfer of mercury from the bulk gas flow to the sorbent surface. If the project were successful, it could yield an economic alternative to mercury control without expensive retrofits. The PI and co-PI have the background and qualifications to conduct the research. The potential benefits of the proposed work are high because mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants are a significant source of mercury, and the electric power industry is facing major regulatory requirements to decrease mercury emissions. Costs of existing emission control technologies are high. The project will include research opportunities for students through a program at IIT called Engineering Collectives, which integrates research teams of 3-6 students (high school, undergraduate and graduate students) to explore a research topic.