Method and apparatus for catalyst regeneration

1. In a method for removing nitrogen oxides from an exhaust gas stream, wherein the exhaust gas stream is contacted with a SOx removal catalyst which reduces the content of sulfur oxides in the exhaust gas stream and wherein the exhaust gas is thereafter contacted with a NOx reducing catalyst which converts nitrogen oxides to NO 2 which is sorbed by the NOx reducing catalyst, the SOx removal catalyst and NOx reducing catalyst housed within a reactor compartment, the improvement comprising the steps of:

(a) isolating the reactor compartment from the flow of the exhaust gas stream;

(b) directing a regeneration gas into the isolated reactor compartment for a time effective to regenerate sorbency of the NOx reducing catalyst;

(c) after regenerating the sorbency of the NOx reducing catalyst, then directing the regeneration gas into the isolated reactor compartment for a time effective to regenerate sorbency of the SOx removal catalyst;

(d) introducing a sulfur removal gas into the reactor compartment after step (c), but prior to step (e), wherein the sulfur removal gas is introduced for a time effective to reduce an amount of sulfur in the SOx removal catalyst; and

(e) thereafter recommencing the flow of the exhaust gas stream through the reactor compartment.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

directing the regeneration gas into the reactor compartment to regenerate sorbency of the SOx removal catalyst after step (a), but prior to step (b).

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sulfur removal gas comprises oxygen.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sulfur removal gas is introduced to the reactor compartment for a time between about 5 seconds to about 30 seconds.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the regeneration gas comprises at least one of: hydrogen, natural gas, steam, or a mixture thereof.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the regeneration gas is directed into the reactor compartment by an inlet located between the SOx removal catalyst and the NOx reducing catalyst.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the regeneration gas is directed into the reactor compartment by a valve located between the NOx reducing catalyst and a downstream damper.

8. A method for removing contaminants from an exhaust gas stream by utilizing a NOx reducing catalyst and a SOx removal catalyst, the method comprising:

introducing the exhaust gas stream into at least one reactor compartment, the at least one reactor compartment comprising a SOx removal catalyst and a NOx reducing catalyst;

removing the contaminants from the exhaust gas stream by sorbing the contaminants on the SOx removal catalyst and the NOx reducing catalyst;

isolating at least one reactor compartment from the exhaust gas stream;

regenerating the NOx reducing catalyst prior to regenerating the SOx removal catalyst by introducing a regeneration gas to the isolated reactor compartment, wherein the regeneration gas contacts the NOx reducing catalyst and contacts the SOx removal catalyst, thereby removing the contaminants therefrom;

after regenerating the SOx removal catalyst, then introducing a sulfur removal gas to the isolated reactor compartment, wherein the sulfur removal gas is effective to remove an amount of sulfur from the SOx removal catalyst; and

after introducing the sulfur removal gas, then introducing the exhaust gas stream to the reactor compartment whereby the SOx removal catalyst and the NOx reducing catalyst can sorb additional contaminants from the exhaust gas.

9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of:

after isolating the reactor compartment from the exhaust gas stream, then regenerating the SOx removal catalyst prior to regenerating the NOx reducing catalyst.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the regeneration gas comprises hydrogen, natural gas, steam, or a mixture thereof.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the sulfur removal gas comprises oxygen.