Many fuels contain sulphur, which after combustion form hazardous SO₂. The low sulphur content fuels are expensive. The higher cost of low sulphur content (like HSD, LDO etc.) fuels is forcing the people to use cheaper fuels like various heavy oils. These contain large percentages of sulphur. The SO₂ produced after combustion is proportionately higher that endangers the environment. Hence for these applications, in addition to solid particulate removal, desulphurization of flue gases becomes an important aspect.

Desulphurization plants are installed to protect the environment. Industries consider it to be a liability and hence running cost should be kept as low as possible. The running cost of using heavy oils and then desulphurizing the flue gases is still lower than that of using light oils.

The contaminants that these systems would otherwise accumulate in our ecosystem, to be removed only at a far greater cost when dispersed than when concentrated at their source. A properly designed flue gas scrubbing system provides an important opportunity to control the contaminant effectively at a point of lowest cost and complexity.

Every working day, millions of cubic feet of industrial air are cleansed to remove hundreds of tons of particulate and containment gases using wet scrubbers. These specially designed scrubbing systems prevent contaminants from attaining levels that may be injurious to people, plant & animal life, and the environment.

Various methods can be employed to carry out desulphurization of gases-

1. Venturi scrubber systems.(Wet Wet Process)
2. Spray dryer systems (Wet Dry Process).
3. Dry Sorbent system ( Dry Dry Process)

Next