Results from Testing of a Brownian Diffusion Filter for Reducing the Aerosol Concentration in a Residue Fluidized Catalytic Cracker Flue Gas at the Technology Center Mongstad

Abstract

Operation of amine absorbers with a flue gas containing sulfuric acid aerosols and dust particles is a challenge. After the installation of a Brownian diffusion filter upstream the absorber the aerosols are reduced and TCM has been able to operate the amine plant with the residual fluidized catalytic cracker flue gas. The Brownian diffusion filter efficiency is assessed based on the number particle concentration and aerosol size distribution. The tests at TCM demonstrate that more than 95 % of the aerosols were removed. The growth of the aerosols with moisture from the flue gas is fast and is not detected by the instrumentation installed at TCM. The water captured by the Brownian diffusion filter confirms that the mass concentration of the aerosols captured is between 1000 and 5000 mg/Sm3 of flue gas.

Keywords: PCC: Amine aerosols, GHGT-14