Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of reducing the sulfur dioxide content of a flue gas which comprises: a. introducing particulate nahcolite into a first zone heated to a temperature of from about 2,000° to about 4,000° F to produce thermally crushed nahcolite of a predominant particle size within the range of from about 0.1 to about 100 microns and a mean particle size of 1-20 microns; b. transporting said thermally crushed nahcolite to a second zone containing a flue gas having sulfur dioxide impurities, said flue gas being at a temperature up to 1,500° F; c. allowing said thermally crushed nahcolite and flue gas to remain in contact for a period of time sufficient to allow said thermally crushed nahcolite to combine with the sulfur dioxide impurities in said flue gas; and d. removing from said flue gas said thermally crushed nahcolite containing combined sulfur dioxide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of reducing the sulfur dioxide content of a flue gas which comprises: a. introducing particulate nahcolite into a first zone heated to a temperature of from about 2,000° to about 4,000° F to produce thermally crushed nahcolite of a predominant particle size within the range of from about 0.1 to about 100 microns and a mean particle size of 1-20 microns; b. transporting said thermally crushed nahcolite to a second zone containing a flue gas having sulfur dioxide impurities, said flue gas being at a temperature up to 1,500° F; c. allowing said thermally crushed nahcolite and flue gas to remain in contact for a period of time sufficient to allow said thermally crushed nahcolite to combine with the sulfur dioxide impurities in said flue gas; and d. removing from said flue gas said thermally crushed nahcolite containing combined sulfur dioxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said flue gas and thermally crushed nahcolite are contacted for a period of up to about 10 seconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the period of contact is from about 1 to about 6 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of thermally crushed nahcolite contacted with said flue gas is sufficient to provide a stoichiometric ratio of nahcolite to free and combined sulfur dioxide within the range of from about 0.9 to about 3.0.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said thermally crushed nahcolite containing combined sulfur dioxide agglomerates prior to removal from the flue gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said flue gas is produced by a boiler, furnace, or incinerator and the thermally crushed nahcolite is contacted with said flue gas in a boiler, furnace, or incinerator exit duct leading from said boiler, furnace, or incinerator to a stack open to the atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6, wherein a particle extractor is located in said duct between a zone of contact between said thermally crushed nahcolite and flue gas and said stack to remove said thermally crushed nahcolite containing combined sulfur dioxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the nahcolite is thermally crushed in a thermal crushing zone outside said duct and transported to said duct for contact with said flue gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said nahcolite is thermally crushed in a thermal crushing zone located in said duct.