Geoenergy, now part of ANDRITZ, is your partner for air pollution control systems and services. We have the technology you trust to improve air quality and protect your equipment.
Carbon capture and storage technology has emerged as a critical tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These systems rely on additional technologies to ensure efficient and sustainable operations. Wet electrostatic precipitators (WESPs or wet ESPs) play a central role in the carbon capture and storage process. Here, we explain the role of WESP as the polisher for carbon capture and storage.
Wet Electrostatic Precipitator Systems
Most wet electrostatic precipitator systems consist of a series of grounded stainless steel tubes. In the middle of each tube, there is an electrode connected to a power source. The WESP uses an induced electrostatic charge to remove particulate matter emissions in exhaust gas streams.
The WESP applies a negative voltage to an electrode grid, creating an electric corona discharge that ionizes the particles and droplets in the moisture-saturated gas stream. The ionized particles and droplets then migrate towards the grounded plates or tubes, where they collect. All the particulates will charge and build up on the inside of the tube wall. This use of electrostatic force means the system has no moving parts. The collected particulate matter and droplets are washed down via wash cycles and discharged through the water deluge system.
A WESP can be an effective option for removing aerosols, mists, ultra-fine particulate matter, organic particulate matter, and sticky particulate matter. These systems can even remove particulates that are moist, tarry, and oily. WESPs are used where the gas stream is already moist or wet.
WESPs can be used in a variety of applications and can be configured in several ways. While a majority of the systems utilize the discrete collection tubes described above, some systems utilize a horizontal flow design that uses plates for collection. A knowledgeable and experienced team like Geoenergy can walk you through your options when choosing a WESP system.
Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources or the atmosphere. The CO2 is then transported and stored to prevent its release into the atmosphere. This technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates climate change.
This technology has evolved to include carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration/storage (CCUS). CCUS involves purifying the CO2 and then utilizing the captured carbon for practical applications. Captured carbon can be utilized in a variety of industries, including the following: chemical, enhanced oil recovery, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical.
Carbon capture and storage relies on a CO2 scrubber. A CO2 scrubber is a system designed to remove or separate CO2 from a gas stream. CO2 scrubbing technologies are well developed. These technologies remove CO2 from various sources, including industrial emissions. A majority of these technologies use amines to absorb CO2. The systems then regenerate the amine solution to yield a concentrated stream of nearly pure CO2 gas, which can then be reused or permanently sequestered.
CO2 scrubbing systems tend to work best when the incoming gases are clean and without impurities. Wet electrostatic precipitation systems can work as a polisher to improve the inlet gas cleaning step.
Wet Electrostatic Precipitators as a Polisher
In an industrial process, the polishing step is the final step to remove contaminants that were not completely eliminated during earlier stages in the process. Wet electrostatic precipitators are increasingly being considered as a “polisher” in carbon capture and storage systems, effectively removing any remaining pollutants after carbon capture.
Wet electrostatic precipitators can be an effective solution for both improving air quality and protecting downstream equipment. The increased interest in and demand for these systems corresponds to the global demand for technologies to abate CO2 emissions.
WESPs are well-suited for pre-cleaning a gas stream prior to treatment in a CO2 scrubber for a number of reasons. Notably, WESPs are not sensitive to the chemical makeup of the collected particles. This makes them extremely effective at collecting fine particles regardless of chemical makeup. This can be especially beneficial in systems where hard-to-clean fine particles remain. Another key characteristic of WESPs is that the systems operate in cooled, saturated conditions. This means that they can capture acid mist and heavy organics.
WESPs are a proven technology for controlling fine particle emissions. Thousands of WESP systems have been installed throughout the globe. These systems are highly efficient and can operate without adding to the water demand of the system. Additionally, these systems are passive devices without moving parts. All of these features make WESPs an ideal choice for polishing a gas stream before it enters a CO2 scrubbing system downstream.
Contact Us Today
Geoenergy, now part of ANDRITZ, is your partner for custom-engineered wet electrostatic precipitator systems. These systems are an effective and essential part of the carbon capture and storage process. Our custom solutions fit compliance and performance needs across a variety of industries.
From audit to installation to aftermarket support, the knowledgeable and experienced Geoenergy team is here to help through every stage of the process. Contact us today to learn more about our WESP products.
