Information Circular--KGS

Abstract

Flue-gas desulfurization and atmospheric fluidized-bed combustion systems for sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission control have been installed at 13 coal- and gas-fired plants and one research laboratory in Kentucky. Limestone, lime, and dolomite are the principal SO2 sorbents used in these systems.

Nine coal-fired, electricity-generating plants in the State have installed wet-scrubbing systems for flue-gas desulfurization. Lime-based scrubbers are using Thiosorbic® lime, produced from the Camp Nelson Limestone (Ordovician) of north-central Kentucky, and carbide lime, a byproduct from the manufacture of acetylene in Louisville. Limestone-based scrubbing systems at three of the plants have used stone from the Warsaw, Ste. Genevieve, and Paoli Limestones (Mississippian) of western and west-central Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southern Illinois. An experimental dry scrubber operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority uses lime produced from the Moccasin Formation (Ordovician) of eastern Tennessee.

Limestone and dolomite are employed as SO2 sorbents in commercial, research, and demonstration atmospheric fluidized-bed combustion (AFBC) units. The New Market Limestone (Ordovician) from northern Virginia and a mixed sorbent consisting of Camp Nelson Limestone from north-central Kentucky and Peebles and Greenfield Dolomites (Silurian) from southern Ohio are used in steam-generating systems equipped with AFBC units at two commercial plants. Pilot and demonstration plants operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority to test and demonstrate utility-scale AFBC units have used Warsaw and Ste. Genevieve Limestones from western Kentucky. Dolomite from the Oregon Formation and limestone from the Grier Limestone Member of the Lexington Limestone, both Ordovician units in central Kentucky, have been used for tests of coals and alternate fuels in an industrial-size AFBC pilot plant, operated by the University of Kentucky and Kentucky Energy Cabinet. Pilot-plant tests have shown that other Kentucky dolomites (Silurian Laurel Dolomite and Mississippian Renfro Member of the Slade Formation) and limestones (Mississippian Salem and Warsaw Formations and Ste. Genevieve Limestone) also are effective AFBC sorbents.

Publication Date

1990

Series

Series XI

Report Number

Information Circular 31

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/kgs.ic31.11

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