Method of cleaning and/or regenerating wholly or partially de-activated catalysts of stack-gas nitrogen scrubbing

Abstract

A cleaning kit for removing process impurities carried on the surface of a NO.sub.x reduction catalyst which is installed in the path of a flue gas flow exiting from a fossil fuel burning facility including: a reagent supply grill; a source of supply of liquid cleaning reagent; a reagent collection basin; and a recirculating structure. The reagent supply grid is adapted to be selectively positioned above a portion of a catalyst layer. The source of supply of liquid cleaning reagent adapted to be in communication with the supply grid, and the reagent collection basin being adapted to be selectively positioned below the portion of such catalyst layer to catch cleaning reagent therein after such reagent passes through such portion of the catalyst layer, the recirculating structure recirculates at least a portion of such reagent from the collecting basin for recirculating through such supply grid for further cleaning of such portion of the catalyst layer.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A method for treating wholly or partially deactivated catalytic devices used for nitrogen removal of stack gases, comprising the steps of: 
 treating the surface of the catalytic devices with a regenerating fluid to remove contaminants from the surface of the catalytic devices without removing the catalytic devices from their normal operating position;    collecting the regenerating fluid and the contaminants;    separating at least a portion of the contaminants from the regenerating fluid;    recirculating the regenerating fluid for reuse in the treatment until the catalytic devices have been regenerated; and,    drying the catalytic devices.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of treating the deactivated catalyst devices with an abrasive prior to treating the surface with a regenerating fluid.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the regenerating fluid is desalinated water at ambient temperature.  
     
     
         17 . A catalyst regeneration system for regenerating deactivated catalytic devices used for nitrogen removal of stack gasses without moving the catalytic devices from its normal operating position, comprising: 
 a container for storing a regeneration fluid;    a fluid pump for conveying the regeneration fluid to the deactivated catalytic devices;    a treatment system for scrubbing the deactivated catalytic devices with the regeneration fluid to remove contaminates from the deactivated catalytic devices;    a catching system for collecting the runoff of the regeneration fluid and the contaminants;    a waste pump for conveying the regeneration fluid and the contaminates to a separating system;    a separating system for separating the regeneration fluid from at least a portion of the contaminates;    a contaminate transfer system for conveying the contaminates to a treatment area; and,    a recycling pump for conveying the regeneration fluid in the separating system to the container for reuse in the catalyst regeneration system.    
     
     
         18 . The catalyst regeneration system of  claim 17  further comprising a drying system for drying the catalytic devices once the catalytic devices have been regenerated.  
     
     
         19 . The catalyst regeneration system of  claim 18  further comprising an additive system for combining active catalytic substances with the regeneration fluid.  
     
     
         20 . The catalyst regeneration system of  claim 17  wherein the regeneration fluid is desalinated water.  
     
     
         21 . A cleaning system to remove contaminants carried on a surface of a wholly or partially deactivated NOX reduction catalyst which is installed in a flue gas flow path of a fossil fuel burning facility, comprising: 
 a movable cleaning reagent supply grid adapted to be selectively positioned above a catalyst layer;    a supply source of liquid cleaning reagent adapted for communication with the supply grid, from which a portion of the liquid cleaning reagent is directed through the supply grid so that essentially all of the catalyst layer is contacted by cleaning reagent, the liquid cleaning reagent removing at least a portion of the contaminants from the catalyst layer;    a cleaning reagent collection basin adapted to be selectively positioned below the catalyst layer to catch cleaning reagent after the reagent passes through the catalyst layer; and    a separating device for removing at least a portion of accumulated solids from the at least a portion of such cleaning reagent prior to recirculation through the supply grid.    
     
     
         22 . The cleaning system of  claim 21  further comprising an additive device for supplying additives to the liquid cleaning reagent.  
     
     
         23 . The cleaning system of  claim 22  further comprising a dryer.  
     
     
         24 . The cleaning system of  claim 23 , wherein the separating device is a hydrocyclone.