Apparatus for delivery of sorbent to a furnace during combustion

Abstract

A power plant may include a furnace, a coal supply, and a sorbent supply. The furnace may have at least one face with a distribution of a plurality of injectors. The coal supply may be in communication with the furnace. The injectors may be in communication with the source of sorbent and provide injection thereof into the furnace. The sorbent may include an alkaline powder having at least one calcium compound, silica, and alumina.

1 . A power plant comprising:
 a furnace;   a supply of coal in communication with said furnace; and   a source of sorbent in communication with at least one of said supply of coal and said furnace, said sorbent including an alkaline powder having at least one calcium compound, silica, and alumina.   
   
   
       2 . The power plant of  claim 1 , further comprising an injector in communication with said source of sorbent and configured to apply said sorbent to said supply of coal. 
   
   
       3 . The power plant of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one injector is positioned upstream of said furnace. 
   
   
       4 . The power plant of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one injector is positioned in said furnace. 
   
   
       5 . The power plant of  claim 1 , wherein said source of sorbent is in communication with said furnace through a lance extending a distance into said furnace. 
   
   
       6 . The power plant of  claim 5 , wherein said distance is at least two feet. 
   
   
       7 . The power plant of  claim 5 , wherein said lance includes perforations. 
   
   
       8 . The power plant of  claim 1 , wherein said sorbent is injected into said furnace at a location where the internal temperature of said furnace is at least 2000° F. during operation. 
   
   
       9 . The power plant of  claim 8 , wherein said sorbent is injected into said furnace at a location where the internal temperature of said furnace is at least 2300° F. 
   
   
       10 . A power plant comprising:
 a furnace having at least one face;   a supply of coal in communication with said furnace; and   a plurality of injectors distributed across said at least one face of said furnace and configured for distribution of a sorbent within said furnace.   
   
   
       11 . The power plant of  claim 10 , wherein said injectors include a lance extending a distance into said furnace. 
   
   
       12 . The power plant of  claim 11 , wherein said lance extends at least two feet into said furnace. 
   
   
       13 . The power plant of  claim 11 , wherein said lance includes perforations. 
   
   
       14 . The power plant of  claim 10 , wherein said injectors are configured to deliver said sorbent into said furnace at a location where the internal temperature of said furnace is at least 2000° F. during operation. 
   
   
       15 . The power plant of  claim 14 , wherein said injectors are configured to deliver said sorbent into said furnace at a location where the internal temperature of said furnace is at least 2300° F. during operation. 
   
   
       16 . A power plant comprising:
 a source of sorbent;   a furnace;   a supply of coal in communication with said furnace;   a plurality of injectors in communication with said source of sorbent; and   a control system controlling application by the injectors of said sorbent to at least one of said coal and said furnace, said control system configured to independently control each of said plurality of injectors.   
   
   
       17 . The power plant of  claim 16 , wherein said control system is configured to control application of sorbent based on at least one input parameter. 
   
   
       18 . A method comprising:
 feeding a supply of coal to a furnace;   combusting the coal in the furnace; and   supplying a sorbent including an alkaline powder having at least one calcium compound, silica, and alumina to the furnace during combustion through a plurality of injectors, said supplying including independent operation of said injectors based on a predetermined set of parameters.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said supplying includes applying the sorbent to the coal in the furnace. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said supplying includes applying the sorbent to the coal upstream of the furnace and subsequently feeding the coal into the furnace. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said supplying includes injecting the sorbent into the furnace at a location where the internal temperature of the furnace is at least 2000° F. during operation. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said supplying includes injecting the sorbent into the furnace at a location where the internal temperature of the furnace is at least 2300° F.