Specific emission control processes

Heavy metal removal

The separation of heavy metals is an important contribution to environmental protection and to the recovery and utilization of residual materials as valuable materials.

Environmental pollution of heavy metals is increasingly becoming a problem and has become of great concern due to the adverse effects it is causing around the world. These inorganic pollutants are being discarded in our waters, soils and into the atmosphere due to the rapidly growing agriculture and metal industries, improper waste disposal, fertilizers and pesticides.

The right application for every case

In addition to the calomel process, often used in the field of non-ferrous metal production, GEA is using the following products

  • Calomel process 
  • Wet Electrostatic precipitators (WESP)
  • Spray drying absorption (SDA) 
  • Candle filters

to reduce heavy metals from flue gas.

The calomel process

heavy-metal-removal-calomel-process

The calomel process is based on the oxidation of mercury vapour by mercuric chloride to form mercurous chloride (calomel). 

A solution of mercuric chloride containing HgCl2 is circulated over a packed tower. The process gas containing mercury passes through the packing where the mercury reacts with mercuric chloride to form mercurous chloride. Mercurous chloride is insoluble and precipitates out of the solution. A side stream from the main tower circulating stream is directed to the primary settler where the mercurous chloride settles to the bottom of a conical tank. The clarified solution overflows back to the scrubbing tower pump tank. The collected solids from the bottom of the primary settler flows to the secondary settler where further concentration of the mercurous chloride. 

In the secondary settler, zinc dust can be added to further aid in the precipitation of mercury from the solution. The solids from the secondary settler are discharged to storage drums for sale or further processing. The scrubbing process removes mercuric chloride from the scrubbing solution.

Wet electrostatic precipitators (WESP)

heavy-metal-removal-wet-electrostatic-precipitators-2d

Wet electrostatic precipitators are used in a wide range of applications including, hazardous and medical waste incinerators, metals refining, sulfite pulp mill recovery boilers, copper roasters, sulfuric acid plants, and wood dryers including oriented stand board, medium density fiber board, or pellet mill dryers.

GEA´s wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) use electrostatic force to remove particulate. It is used treat gas streams with sub-micron particulate, aerosol, or fumes. These can include heavy metals such as lead, arsenic or cadmium, condensed acid aerosols like sulfur trioxide (SO3), or condensed volatile organic compounds (VOC´s). The use of electrostatic forces minimizes energy costs compared to other technologies, which require large amounts of energy to overcome resistance to air low.

Spray drying absorption (SDA) process

heavy-metal-removal-sda-2d

GEA SDA process is based on a simple concept, honed over the years into a precise, effective system. Hot, untreated flue gas is fed into a spray drying absorption chamber and comes immediately into contact with a fine spray. 

Precise control of the gas distribution, slurry flow rate and droplet size ensure that all droplets are converted into a fine powder. The injection of activated carbon into the flue gas can be used to enhance the removal of mercury and dioxins. Some fly ash and reaction products drop to the bottom of the absorber and are discharged. 

The treated flue gas continues on to a dust collector, where any remaining suspended solids are removed. The cleaned outlet gases are then expelled through the stack. Meanwhile the dry powder from the bottom of the absorber and dust collector is conveyed to a silo. 

The SDA process can optionally include a partial recycling of the reaction products to the feed slurry to improve absorption and drying performance.

Candle filter

heavy-metal-removal-candle-filter-2d

GEA high temperature filters with ceramic elements remove particulates and are now available as ceramic filters with an embedded catalyst matrix allowing removal of NOx, dioxins, mercury and VOC. 

The filter elements are chemically inert and corrosion resistant. Ceramic filter elements show very low dust emissions < 2 mg/Nm3 and are thermally stable up to high operating temperatures. No cooling of flue gases is required, and no thermal heat energy is wasted. 

Filter elements are cleaned online during operation by means of separate, compressed air jet pulses. The filter elements are placed in a single or multi-compartment housing to handle large volumetric flow rates. This construction technique allows for maintenance of a single module while others continue to operate, without interruption of the process itself. 

The injection of reagents and / or absorbents allows for control of various gaseous emissions.

heavy-metal-removal-calomel

GEA 洞察

通过可持续制冷保证面向未来的冷链

优质冷链管理的重要性不可低估。确保易腐食品在食用时安全且高质量是冷链设施运营商的巨大责任。GEA 处于为冷库和配送中心提供安全、可持续制冷技术的前沿,帮助客户减少其设施的能源消耗和碳排放。

Josep Masramón and his daughter stand in front of their GEA batch milking installation.

批量挤奶如何支持现代奶牛养殖业

自动挤奶的最新发展引入了批量挤奶 – 一种在固定挤奶时间将奶牛分组挤奶的奶牛养殖实践,通常每天两次到三次。自动化技术正在帮助奶农克服近期的挑战,平衡奶牛场的奶牛福利、灵活性和可持续性,同时不断优化其成本结构并实现越来越高效的优势。

从稀薄的空气中

在许多国家/地区,获得安全用水和卫生设施体系仍然是一个挑战。由于饮用水不干净以及每天长途跋涉取水而生病,意味着许多儿童无法上学。GEA 通过与汉堡非营利组织 Viva con Agua 合作,使用一些非常神奇的技术帮助为坦桑尼亚的几所学校提供干净的水。

接收 GEA 新闻

订阅 GEA 的新闻,掌握 GEA 的创新信息和故事。

联系我们

我们随时为你提供帮助!你只需提供少量详细信息,我们就能回复你的查询。