Enhanced NOx Reduction with SO2 Capture under Air-Staged Conditions by Calcium Magnesium Acetate in an Oil-Fired Tunnel Furnace

The technique of combustion modification by air staging (over-fire air) for the control of NOx emissions is currently implemented in many coal-fired power stations. This paper presents results from a new process involving the injection of calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), which can reduce SO2 and at the same time enhance NOx reductions above those achievable by air staging alone. The experiments were performed in a 3.5m long, horizontal tunnel furnace with an internal diameter of 500 mm operated at 80 kWth by firing gas-oil. The organic content of CMA behaves like a fuel, and the Ca content calcines principally to CaO for acid gas capture in the furnace at temperatures greater than 1000 °C. The solubility of CMA in water means that concentrated solutions can be sprayed into the furnace as a fine mist, giving the possibility of intimate mixing with combustion gases. The concentration of fuel nitrogen in the fuel could be easily modified by varying the amount of dopant (quinoline) injected into the oil feed ...