ChE comment re: fertilizer from coal ash solicited

[rmw]

I posted a news item regarding a promising looking emerging technology in the coal fired power industry in thread605-134830 and would like the trained eyes of our ChE peers to give their comments regarding the back end (fertilizer and mercury removal part of the) technology.

The basic ash removal precipitators, dry and wet, are a known and accepted technology. I wonder where the buggar bears are with respect to the fertilizer mfg/utilization technology.

Please post any comments you would like to make on that forum.

rmw

 

[bimr]

No, it is not so simple. The simplified flow diagram leaves off many process steps including the dewatering and material handling steps. Selection of an FGD process would also have to consider the cost of raw materials, product value, as well as capital cost.

This technology is not much different than what Marsulex is already doing. Marsulex has already commercialized the process and has actual installations. Marsulex also has other competing FGD processes for evaluation.

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/05/NOx_SO2/SO2 Presentations/Tech_Marsulex.pdf

I don't think Powerspan has an actual installation of any FGD process. FirstEnergy by the way is the company that was criticized for being responsible for that major electrical blackout in the northeast US a few years ago.