Module 6: Air Pollutants and Control Techniques - Incompletely Oxidized Compounds - Control Techniques
Lesson Material
Practice
Problems
Objective
- Describe the techniques that control emissions of carbon monoxide and incompletely oxidized organic compounds.
Good combustion practices are the primary means used to minimize the emission of partially oxidized organic compounds and carbon monoxide from boilers, gas turbines, and waste incinerators. One of the most important steps is maintaining sufficient oxygen levels in the burner flames and throughout the combustion chamber where oxidation reactions go to completion. Leaks of ambient air into the combustion chamber should be avoided to the maximum extent possible because these leaks chill localized areas of the combustion chamber, which suppresses the oxidation reactions for both carbon monoxide and partially oxidized organic compounds.
NOx combustion modifications discussed previously in this Module must be limited to prevent creating conditions in burner flames or in the combustion chamber that prevent the complete oxidation of carbon monoxide and partially oxidized compounds.
Add-on type thermal or catalytic oxidizer systems can be used for sources that generate a relatively small gas stream containing these partially oxidized pollutants. Add-on control devices are not economically feasible for the very large utility and industrial sized boilers or for large waste incinerators. In these cases, the fuel cost for the incinerator would be prohibitive. Furthermore, the combustion of additional fuel in the oxidizer would increase the overall nitrogen oxides emissions. For large systems, optimization of the combustion process is the only viable option for minimizing the emissions of carbon monoxide and partially oxidized organic compounds.
Practice Problems
Incompletely Oxidized Compounds - Control Techniques
- Instructions:
- Complete the Practice Problems before proceeding to the next lesson. Click on the button below.
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