IP Library Granted Patent US 8,562,724
Granted Patent B2
US 8,562,724 · App. 13/038,080 · Granted Oct 22, 2013

Methods and systems for removing pollutants from fluid stream

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,562,724
App. No.
13/038,080
Granted
Oct 22, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pollutant removal system for use with a power generation system includes a particulate control device configured to remove particulates from a flue gas stream produced within the power generation system. The particulate control device is cleaned on a predetermined cleaning cycle. The pollutant removal system also includes a sorbent control system for controllably injecting a sorbent into the flue gas stream upstream of the particulate control device. The sorbent control system is configured to adjust a sorbent injection rate as a function of the cleaning cycle.

Claims (42)

1. A pollutant removal system for use with a power generation system, said pollutant removal system comprising:

a particulate control device configured to remove particulates from a flue gas stream produced within the power generation system, said particulate control device cleaned on a predetermined cleaning cycle; and

a sorbent control system for controllably injecting a sorbent into the flue gas stream upstream of said particulate control device, said sorbent control system configured to increase a sorbent injection rate based on a cleaning cycle initiation time of the predetermined cleaning cycle.

2. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to:

increase the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate; and

decrease the sorbent injection rate after the predetermined maximum injection rate is reached.

3. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to increase the sorbent injection rate to the predetermined maximum injection rate after the cleaning cycle has terminated.

4. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said particulate control device comprises at least one filter, wherein the flue gas stream is at least partially channeled through said at least one filter.

5. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to adjust the sorbent injection rate based on a differential pressure across said at least one filter.

6. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to adjust the sorbent injection rate to be substantially inversely proportional to the differential pressure after the sorbent injection rate reaches a predetermined maximum injection rate.

7. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to increase the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate after the cleaning cycle has initiated and before the cleaning cycle has terminated.

8. A pollutant removal system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to:

increase the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate after a termination of the cleaning cycle;

maintain the sorbent injection rate for a predetermined amount of time; and

decrease the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined minimum injection rate after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

9. A power generation system comprising:

a furnace configured to combust fuel and to generate a stream of flue gas from the combusted fuel;

a particulate control device coupled in flow communication with said furnace and configured to remove particulates from the flue gas stream, said particulate control device cleaned on a predetermined cleaning cycle; and

a sorbent control system for controllably injecting a sorbent into the flue gas stream upstream of said particulate control device, said sorbent control system configured to increase a sorbent injection rate based on a cleaning cycle initiation time of the predetermined cleaning cycle.

10. A power generation system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to:

increase the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate; and

decrease the sorbent injection rate after the predetermined maximum injection rate is reached.

11. A power generation system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to increase the sorbent injection rate to the predetermined maximum injection rate after the cleaning cycle has terminated.

12. A power generation system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said particulate control device comprises at least one filter, wherein the flue gas stream is at least partially channeled through said at least one filter.

13. A power generation system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to adjust the sorbent injection rate based on a differential pressure across said at least one filter.

14. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to adjust the sorbent injection rate to be substantially inversely proportional to the differential pressure after the sorbent injection rate reaches a predetermined maximum injection rate.

15. A power generation system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to increase the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate after the cleaning cycle has initiated and before the cleaning cycle has terminated.

16. A power generation system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said sorbent control system is configured to:

increase the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate after a termination of the cleaning cycle;

maintain the sorbent injection rate for a predetermined amount of time; and

decrease the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined minimum injection rate after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

17. A method for removing pollutants from a flue gas stream, said method comprising:

receiving a flue gas stream including a plurality of pollutants entrained therein;

channeling the flue gas stream through at least one filter;

executing a cleaning cycle to remove particulates from the filter; and

controllably injecting, using a control device, sorbent into the flue gas stream such that the sorbent is at least partially retained by the filter, wherein a sorbent injection rate is increased based on a cleaning cycle initiation time of the cleaning cycle.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising increasing the sorbent injection rate after a termination of the cleaning cycle.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 , further comprising progressively decreasing the sorbent injection rate after the sorbent injection rate has reached a predetermined maximum injection rate.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising:

increasing the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined maximum injection rate after a termination of the cleaning cycle;

maintaining the sorbent injection rate for a predetermined amount of time; and

decreasing the sorbent injection rate to a predetermined minimum injection rate after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; BHA GROUP, INC.; ALTAIR FILTER TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
To: BHA ALTAIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 031911/0797 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2011
From: MALY, PETER MARTIN; TAYLOR, ROBERT; BANSAL, VISHAL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025882/0626 →