Flue gas conditioning system

Abstract

Improved apparatus and methods for the treatment of boiler flue gas with sulfur trioxide conditioning agent include the beneficial use of catalytic converters that can be located immediately adjacent the injection site for their sulfur trioxide output, that can be individually sized and manufactured for variable required conditioning agent outputs, that can be individually controlled and can provide substantially improved conversion efficiency and that can provide an efficient, flexible, effective and relatively inexpensive multi-boiler flue conditioning system.

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to a flue gas conditioning system for treating particulate-ladened boiler flue gas with a conditioning agent to improve the removal of particulate matter by electrostatic means and, more particularly, relates to flue gas conditioning system including one or more catalytic converters or converter assemblies separated from the gas source and located adjacent the site of injection of the conditioning agent into the flue gas, for the conversion of a gas to a conditioning agent, and, still more particularly, where plural remote catalytic converters are provided to convert gas from a single source for conditioning a plurality of flue gas streams, for example, from more than one boiler.

BACKGROUND ART

Electrical utilities must burn increasing quantities of fossil fuels to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for electric power. At the same time, electric utilities face increasing clean-air standards that are imposed upon their operation. In trying to satisfy the divergent demands of increasing power and decreased air pollution, electrical utilities have turned to using low-sulfur coals to fire their boilers and generate the steam needed for electrical power generation.

Electrical utilities have long relied upon electrostatic means such as electrostatic precipitators to remove particulate matter from boiler flue gas. The efficiency of operation of the electrostatic precipitators in the removal of particulate matter from boiler flue gas is dependent, in part, upon the electrical resistivity of the entrained particulate matter in boiler flue gas. It has been found that where a boiler is fired with low sulfur content, the entrained particulate matter in the boiler flue gas has a high resistivity, for example, 10.sup.13 ohm-cm resistance and more, the most efficient removal of particulate matter by electrostatic precipitation requires that its resistivity be substantially lower; for example, on the order of about 10.sup.g ohm-cm. When the resistivity of the particulate matter is high, for example, on the order of 10.sup.13 ohm-cm, the efficiency of electrostatic precipitation is substantially reduced. Thus, reduced efficiency in the operation of electrostatic precipitators with the flue gas from low-sulfur coals as a result of the higher resistivity of its flue gas particles can offset the reduced or potentially reduced air pollution sought through the use of the more expensive low-sulfur coals.

One solution to this problem has been to condition the boiler flue gas prior to its entrance into the electrostatic precipitator by the use of a conditioning agent to reduce the resistivity of the entrained particles within the boiler flue gas. Among the various chemicals which have been used as conditioning agents for boiler flue gas are water, anhydrous ammonia and various ammonia-bearing solutions, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and most commonly sulfur trioxide.

Sulphur trioxide flue gas-conditioning systems have included systems which store liquefied sulfur which is fed to a sulfur burner in which the sulfur is converted by combustion predominantly to sulfur dioxide. The systems then pass the sulfur dioxide to a catalytic converter which employs a vanadium pentoxide catalyst to convert the sulfur dioxide into sulfur trioxide. The sulfur trioxide created by such systems is piped to a nozzle system for injection into ducts carrying the boiler flue gas and its entrained particulate material to reduce the electrical resistivity of the flue gas particulate matter for removal by an electrostatic precipitator.

Sulfur trioxide conditioning systems have been proposed to condition the flue gas streams from more than one boiler with sulfur trioxide from a single conditioning agent source. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,746 proposes a flue gas conditioning system including a catalytic converter whose output is divided and connected through a system of conduits and control valves with two flue gas conduits carrying the flue gas from two boilers, and further including a separate purging system of conduits and control valves to direct a flow of purging air within the system.

The prior proposals for such multi-boiler flue gas conditioning systems have not been satisfactory. Individual boilers must be free to, and are likely to operate at, different capacities because of differing and variable electrical load requirements, operating problems or outages and the like, and each of their electrostatic precipitators face varying flue gas flow and particle conditions and must operate at high efficiencies at all times. A multi-boiler flue gas conditioning system must be able to provide separate, independently controlled flows of conditioning agent into each of the plurality of variable flue gas flows from the multiple boilers and accurately respond to varying load signals from the boilers, the turbines or their controls and provide variations needed to maintain high precipitator operating efficiencies and low flue gas opacities in the plurality of flue gas streams from the boilers. In addition, if one boiler must be shut down because of a forced power outage, the conditioning system must be able to enter a purge cycle to clear sulfur trioxide from the portion of the system carrying sulfur trioxide to the flue gas of the shut-down boiler without significantly altering the flow of conditioning agent to the other operating boilers.

In prior proposed multi-boiler flue gas conditioning systems, such as that proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,746, the catalytic converter providing the conditioning agent must be designed to provide the total maximum flow of conditioning agent for all of the boilers to which it is connected, and a separate additional air blower and heater must be provided for purging the system. Furthermore, the catalytic converter and the other apparatus providing sulfur dioxide to the catalytic converter have generally been assembled as a unit for shipping installation and operation, and the assembled SO.sub.3 -producing unit is not capable of location near multiple flue gas conduits leading from multiple boilers so that, in such prior multi-boiler systems, sulfur trioxide conditioning agent had to be carried through lengthy conduits and frequently over tortuous paths from the SO.sub.3 -producing unit to the injectors of the various flue gas conduits of the multiple boilers, thus requiring both extended warm-up times prior to the introduction of sulfur trioxide to remote flue gas conduits, because of the high acid dew point of SC.sup.3 (550.degree. F.-288.degree. C.), and extended system purge times upon shut down of a boiler unit, and increased difficulty in purging long tortuous conduits of sulfur trioxide.

In addition, sulfur trioxide conditioning agent can be made at a single flow rate at any one time and the resulting single flow of sulfur trioxide must be divided among the multiple boilers depending upon the boiler load of each of the boilers, and the characteristics of the particulate matter generated by each of the boilers and of operation of each of the electrostatic precipitators; no successful system for such operation is known. Providing sulfur trioxide at a rate that is too low or too high to any one of the boiler conduits can result in ineffective operation of its electrostatic precipitator, and excessive stack emission, corrosion of system components and a blue acid plume.

Because of the problems above and others, prior multi-boiler flue gas conditioning systems have been inefficient, inflexible, expensive and generally ineffective. The multi-burner flue gas conditioning systems that have been tried have proven to be unsatisfactory in service and many have been abandoned. As a result, such multi-burner flue gas conditioning systems are no longer being offered add flue gas conditioning system suppliers are suggesting a separate flue gas conditioning system for each boiler flue gas stream.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an improved apparatus and methods for the treatment of boiler flue gas with sulfur trioxide conditioning agent. The invention includes the beneficial use of catalytic converters that can be located immediately adjacent the injection site for their sulfur trioxide output, that can be individually sized and manufactured for variable required conditioning agent outputs, that can be individually controlled and can provide substantially improved conversion efficiency and that can provide an efficient, flexible, effective and relatively inexpensive multi-boiler flue conditioning system.

Such improved apparatus can comprise an integrated assembly adapted to provide a flow of air and sulfur dioxide and to be shipped and installed as a unit at an electrical generating facility, and a plurality of sulfur dioxide catalytic converters adapted for operation remote from the integrated assembly at a plurality of sites where sulfur trioxide is to be injected into the boiler flue gas. One example of a preferred integrated assembly can comprise a sulfur burner, a pump for liquified sulfur and an air blower connected with the sulfur burner, a system controller and the associated components and conduits known for sulfur burning flue gas conditioning systems. A plurality of catalytic converters may be installed remotely from the integrated apparatus and each such catalytic converter may be individually sized, manufactured and operated to provide the conditioning agent output needed at its injection site, whether for one of a plurality of injectors for the flue gas of a single boiler or for the injectors for the flue gas of one of a plurality of boilers.

In such apparatus, the integrated assembly can also comprise a first means for providing a flow of sulfur dioxide, a second means for providing a flow of heated air, a third means for mixing the flows of sulfur dioxide and heated air to produce a combined flow of sulfur dioxide and air at a temperature in excess of the condensation temperature of sulfurous acid, and a fourth means for supporting and carrying the first, second and third means. The integrated assembly may also include a means for dividing the flow of sulfur dioxide and air into a plurality of flows for direction to the plurality of catalytic converters.

In systems of the invention, each of the plurality of remotely located catalytic converters can be individually sized and manufactured to provide a specified maximum flow of sulfur trioxide to condition the flue gas from a single one of a plurality of boilers, and can be of substantially reduced size, having a conversion capacity limited to that needed at a single injection site. Furthermore, each of the plurality of catalytic converters can be a two-stage converter with interstage cooling to provide improved conversion efficiency and/or can be provided with a source of heat and/or air and individually controlled.

In another such system of the invention, the first means generates sulfur dioxide from liquified sulfur by pumping the liquified sulfur to a sulfur burner. An air blower provides a first flow of air to the sulfur burner and a second flow of air for combination with the sulfur dioxide generated in the sulfur burner, and the first and second flows of air from the air blower are heated with first and second heaters. Such a sulfur burning first means can provide heating energy to the sulfur burner for its conversion of sulfur to sulfur dioxide, and a substantially greater air flow can bypass the sulfur burner and can be used to dilute the sulfur dioxide output of the sulfur burner to a proper concentration for delivery to and SO.sub.3 conversion at the plurality of sulfur dioxide conversion units.

Another preferred system of this invention provides sulfur trioxide conditioning agent to multiple flue gas streams of multiple boilers from a single sulfur dioxide source (hereafter referred frequently as a "cross-tie system"). The cross-tie system of this invention overcomes the disadvantages discussed above in regard to prior multi-boiler flue gas conditioning systems. In the preferred cross-tie system of the invention, there is no loss of control flexibility and each separate boiler flue gas stream is provided with a variable individual conditioning agent flow which can satisfy the desirable operating conditions of the electrostatic precipitator for the flue gas from that individual boiler. With the cross-tie system of this invention, the flue gas of any number of boilers can be conditioned using either SO.sub.2 or elemental sulfur as feedstock sulfur source. A significant advantage of this system is its versatility, which is based on using or generating gaseous SO.sub.2 and delivering gaseous SO.sub.2 to a plurality of catalytic converters, with each catalytic converter being located adjacent site of injection of sulfur trioxide into the flue gas conduit of a different boiler. At each sulfur trioxide injection site, the SO.sub.2 may be mixed with heated air, and sulfur trioxide (SO.sub.3) may be generated at each of the separate catalytic converters to suit the individual needs of the flue gas streams from the individual boilers connected with the system. In systems of the invention, a sulfur furnace can supply SO.sub.2 for conversion to SO.sub.3 for a multiplicity of boilers and the difficult transmission of SO.sub.3 can be avoided. Hot SO.sub.2 generated at the sulfur furnace can be delivered long distances without risk of pipe corrosion.

Such preferred systems of the invention for conditioning a plurality of flue gas streams from a plurality of boilers can comprise means for providing a single flowing mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and air, means for dividing the single flowing mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and air into a plurality of flows of sulfur dioxide gas and air in a plurality of distribution conduits, with each of the distributing conduits extending from the dividing means to adjacent one of the plurality of flue gas conduits and an adjacent one of a plurality of catalytic converters for converting sulfur dioxide and air into sulfur trioxide conditioning agent. Each one of the plurality of catalytic converters is connected with a different one of the distributing conduits at its input end and with means to inject sulfur trioxide into one of the plurality of flue gas streams from one of plurality of boilers at its output end.

Such systems can further comprise means for providing a single flow of air, means for dividing the flow of air into a plurality of flows of air in a plurality of air distributing conduits; each of the air distributing conduits extending from said air dividing means to adjacent one of the plurality of flue gas conduits and an adjacent one of a plurality of temperature controlled air heaters, with each one of said plurality of air heaters having its input connected with one of the air distributing conduits and its output connected with the input of one of the catalytic converters. A plurality of flow control control valves, one for each of the sulfur dioxide distributing conduits and air distributing conduits, can be operated to control the generation of sulfur trioxide and for each one of the flue gas streams by plurality of a control outputs from one or more controllers. Each of the plurality of control outputs is connected to one of said flow control valves and is generated by a controller, which is adapted for determining the need for conditioning agent for the flue gas flowing in the flue gas conduit with which it is connected.

In preferred such systems, one or more of the plurality of catalytic converters can provide two-stage conversion of the sulfur dioxide and air flowing through the converter. Such two-stage catalytic convertors can comprise two individual catalytic convertor assemblies interconnected with a cooling conduit and installed adjacent a flue gas conduit to which it is connected.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and more detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic drawing of a system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing of another system of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic drawing of still another system of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the center of a catalytic converter adapted to supply a single injection site in system of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an example of an installation of a catalytic converter at an injection site for a flue gas conduit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a system of the invention. The new system shown in FIG. 1 includes a source of liquified sulfur 150 which may include a concrete storage pit or a thermally insulated tank that is provided with heating elements to liquify the sulfur. In the system, liquified sulfur will be pumped by a metering pump 151 from the sulfur source 150 through steam-jacketed and thermally insulated pipes 150a-150c and a mass flow meter 152 (optional) to a sulfur burner, or furnace, 153 for combustion. The sulfur burner 153 can be a conventional sulfur furnace construction with a refractory lining and a brick checker work. Preferably, the sulfur burner of the system can be a spray burner in which the liquified sulfur is sprayed into the refractory furnace from one or more spray nozzles. Such spray burner systems provide more vigorous burning and more complete combustion than the conventional checkerwork furnaces, and the spray burner apparatus is smaller, less expensive and more easily controlled, and permits the burning of sulfur to be terminated quickly if necessary. The products of combustion of the sulfur, primarily sulfur dioxide, will be directed from the sulfur burner 153 through conduit 153a and mixed with air from conduit 157a, as described below.

The system shown in FIG. 1 includes a constant volume blower 154. The constant volume blower 154 provides a flow of air between two conduits 155a and 155b to air heaters 156 and 157. The air flow from blower 155 through conduit 155a is raised in temperature by air heater 156 to a constant temperature of 750.degree. F. at the heater output and is directed into the sulfur burner 153 to raise the sulfur burner 153 to a temperature sufficient to burn sulfur, that is, approximately 750.degree. F. A temperature sensor 158 at the output of the sulfur burner 153 is set to provide an operating signal to controller 32 when the temperature at the output of the sulfur burner exceeds 600.degree. F. When controller 32 receives the signal from temperature sensor 158 indicating the air leaving the sulfur burner 153 exceeds 600.degree. F., the controller 32 will be enabled to operate sulfur pump 151, as described above, to operate the system at minimal opacities and minimal sulfur flow rates. During operation of the system, controller 32 operates sulfur pump 151 to deliver liquified sulfur from sulfur source 150 through a flow meter 152 (which is optional) to sulfur burner 153. In sulfur burner 153, the sulfur is mixed with the air from air heater 156 and combusted to create combustion products, primarily SO.sub.2', which are directed from the output of the sulfur burner 153 through conduit 153a.

The system of FIG. 1 requires no control of the temperature or of the volume of air introduced into sulfur burner 153 by blower 155 and air heater 156. Under all conditions of operation of controller 32 and sulfur burner 153, a constant flow of air at an effective burner input temperature of 750.degree. F. can be introduced into sulfur burner 153. The air from blower 154 is split into conduits 155a and 155b in a constant proportion. The flow rate of air introduced into conduit 155a, air heater 156 and sulfur burner 153 is only that flow rate sufficient to burn sulfur and may typically be as low as 40 to 50 standard cubic feet per minute, which substantially reduces the power requirements for air heater 156. Blower 154 and divider 155 deliver a larger volume rate of the air into conduit 155b and heater 157, for example, about 850 standard cubic feet per minute, to mix with and dilute the sulfur dioxide leaving burner 153 at mixing junction 159. Air heater 157 raises the temperature of this larger proportion of air slightly, to about 100.degree. F., a temperature sufficient to maintain the sulfur dioxide and air combination above the condensation temperature of sulfurous acid after mixing. The second flow of heated air is delivered through conduit 157a to a mixing junction 159 where it is mixed with the sulfur dioxide leaving sulfur burner 153 through conduit 153a. The combined air-sulfur dioxide mixture will then travel through conduit 160 to a flow divider 161.

Thus, the air from blower 154 is split between conduits 155a and 155b, with the air flow through air heater 156 and sulfur burner 153 being only five to ten percent of the air flow and with the remaining ninety percent of the air flow being directed through conduit 155b and air heater 157. This proportion will provide, upon mixing of the SO.sub.2 from conduit 153a and the slightly heated air from conduit 157a, an air-SO.sub.2 concentration suitable for conversion to sulfur trioxide.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the sulfur pump 151, flow meter 152, sulfur burner 153, blower 154, flow divider 155, air heater 156, air heater 157, conduits 150b, 150c, 153a, 155a, 155b and 157a, mixing junction 159 and flow divider 160 may be supported and carried by a single supporting structure or means, which is indicated at 162, and can all be integrated into a single assembly which may be located remotely from the duct work 163 for the flue gas. The integrated assembly can also include an insulated and heated tank (as sulfur source 150) which is supported and carried with conduit 150a by the supporting structure 162. Such an integrated assembly may be conveniently built and tested at a production facility located distantly from the site of its installation and may be shipped as a unit for installation. In this preferred system, the temperature of the air-SO.sub.2 mixture downstream of the mixing junction 159 need only be maintained in excess of the relatively low temperature at which the air-SO.sub.2 mixture will condense to form sulfurous acid (about 180.degree. F.). Conduit 160 for the air-SO.sub.2 mixture may be mild steel pipe with sufficient thermal insulation to insure that the temperature of the air-SO.sub.2 mixture remains above 180.degree. F.

The system of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of sulfur dioxide conversion means, 164-167, preferably one for each SO.sub.3 -insertion site in conduit 163. The air-SO.sub.2 mixture is divided by a flow divider 161 into a plurality of distribution conduits, 171-174, for delivery to the location adjacent the plurality of sulfur dioxide conversion means, 164-167, where it is heated to 800.degree. F., converted to SO.sub.3, and delivered to a plurality of SO.sub.3 insertion devices 181-184. The distribution conduits 171-174 may also be mild steel pipe with sufficient insulation to insure that the temperature of the air-SO.sub.2 mixture will remain high enough (about 180.degree. F.) to avoid condensation.

Each of the plurality of sulfur dioxide conversion means 164-167 includes a small heater, 164a-167a, respectively, and a small catalytic converter 164b-167b, to convert sulfur dioxide into sulfur trioxide immediately adjacent the plurality of insertion probes 181-184. The air-SO.sub.2 mixture in each of conduits 171-174 is directed into the small heaters 164a-167a, which includes self-contained temperature regulators to raise the output temperature of the air-SO.sub.2 mixture to 800.degree. F., prior to its entry into the plurality of catalytic converters 164b-167b where the SO.sub.2 is converted to SO.sub.3 and immediately injected into duct work 163 through the injection devices 181-184.

In the system of FIG. 1, blower 154 must only be operated a short time after system shut down to purge the system of sulfur trioxide. Because of the immediate adjacency of the catalytic converters 164b-167b to their associated injectors 181-184, the reduced volume and surfaces to be purged and the parallel and simultaneous purging of the catalytic converters and their associated injectors, such systems may be purged quickly.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic drawings to illustrate cross-tie systems of the invention for conditioning a plurality of flue gas streams from a plurality of boilers or generating units including a sulfur source (e.g., 320) for providing a single flowing mixture of sulfur dioxide and air, one or more flow dividers (e.g., 317) for dividing the single flowing mixture of sulfur dioxide and air into a plurality of flows of sulfur dioxide and air in a plurality of distributing conduits 315, 315a, and a plurality of catalytic converters 332, 332' connected with the distributing conduits at their input ends and with injectors 336, 336' to inject sulfur trioxide into the plurality of flue gas conduits 337, 337' for a plurality of boilers or generating units.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such systems can include a blower 312 for providing a single flow of air, one or more air dividers 319 for dividing the flow of air into a plurality of flows of air in a plurality of air distributing conduits 313a, and a plurality of air heaters 334 having their inputs connected with the air distributing conduits 313a and their outputs connected with the inputs 335 of the catalytic converters. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each one of the plurality of catalytic converters 332 and an associated one of the plurality of air heaters 334 can form a sulfur dioxide conversion assembly 330 which is located adjacent one of the conduits 337 of generating units 1-3, and the distributing conduits for sulfur dioxide and for air 315a extend to the sulfur dioxide conversion assemblies 330 near each generating unit conduit 337. In addition, the flow of sulfur dioxide and air to each of the catalytic converters 332 is controlled by a controllable flow control valve 352 connected in each distributing conduit 333 for sulfur dioxide. Each of the controllable flow control valves 352 is operated by a controller 322 that is connected with sensors installed for each generating unit (not shown) and its precipitator and/or other such sensors that are used to determine the need for conditioning agent, as well known in the art.

In each of the systems of FIGS. 2 and 3, the sulfur trioxide is mixed with the boiler flue gas of each unit 1-3 and its entrained particulate matter to condition its particulate matter for removal by an electrostatic precipitator before the flue gas is emitted into atmosphere from the stack.

As indicated above, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate further embodiments provided by this invention for providing flue gas conditioning agent for multiple boilers or generator units from a single SO.sub.2 generating source. As shown in FIG. 2, such a system 300 can include one SO.sub.2 generator skid 310, a separate SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 for each of the generator units 1, 2 and 3, a feedstock storage means 340 connected to the SO.sub.2 generator skid 310, and a plurality of control valves 350, 352 and mass flow meters 358.

The SO.sub.2 generator skid 310 can include a process air blower 312 that is equipped with variable speed drive, and a furnace blower 314 equipped with a controllable automatic valve 316, an air heater 318, which may be either electrical or gas-fired, for the furnace air from blower 314, a sulfur furnace 320, and a control 322.

The process air blower 312 is equipped with variable speed drive and supplies air to the individual SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter stations 330. The size of the process air blower 312 is selected to provide about fifty percent (50%) of the total air volume needed to generate SO.sub.3 conditioning agent for all of the generator units 1-3, and the variable speed drive of blower 312 allows air volume to be varied to meet the variable operation needed to satisfy the flue gas condition requirements of the boiler or generator units in service, and to maintain high SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion efficiency as the SO.sub.3 demand varies.

The furnace blower 314 is connected to a controllable automatic valve 316 for controlling the air flow to sulfur furnace, and is controlled to deliver that amount of air to the sulfur furnace 320 for sulfur combustion and an SO.sub.2 /air mixture with an approximately ten percent (10%) maximum SO.sub.2 concentration. The output of furnace blower 314 can be varied to deliver the desired SO.sub.2 concentration and to minimize the energy consumed by the system 300. The outputs of process air blower 312 and furnace blower 314 are combined at the converter inlet 335, and the process air blower 312 cooperates with furnace blower 314 to deliver an SO.sub.3 air mixture to the probes 336 at a concentration of approximately two to six percent. The furnace air heater 318 raises the air provided by the furnace blower 314 to a temperature of approximately 700.degree. F. to initiate sulfur combustion within the sulfur furnace 320 as sulfur spontaneously ignites at this temperature range. When a sufficient amount of sulfur is burned to maintain a desirable furnace temperature, control 322 deactivates the furnace heater 318. At high SO.sub.2 concentrations, the furnace heater 318 may be deactivated as the sulfur combustion process itself supplies all the heat needed for the process to be self-sustaining.

Sulfur furnace 320 may be a spray burner type of multiple ball-type furnace. The specific design of sulfur furnace 320 is dependent upon the required SO.sub.3 output of the system. The sulfur furnace is preferably sized to produce the maximum rate of SO.sub.2 needed to provide the maximum expected consumption of SO.sub.3 conditioning agent for all of the generator units tied in with the cross-tie system. For example, if each of the three generator units 1-3 may each require 20 ppm SO.sub.3, the sulfur furnace 20 will be designed to produce sufficient SO.sub.2 for conversion to supply SO.sub.3 with a concentration of 60 ppm, plus an operating margin. The sulfur furnace 320 preferably operates to produce an output of SO.sub.2 in air at about ten percent maximum concentration.

Control means 322 can include the total system controls, MCC, local power supplies, and the like. A fully automated control for all of the components making up the cross-tie system, plus full control of the SO.sub.2 generating skid 310, can be made available at the skid 320. Alternatively, controls for the components and systems can be provided remote from the SO.sub.2 generating skid 310.

Each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 can include an electric or gas-fired heater 334 and one or more SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 catalytic converters 332. The output of each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly is connected with injection probes 336, which accommodate the size of the flue gas conduit 337 of each boiler or generator unit. The SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter 332 can have an SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion efficiency rate of 94 to 98 percent, and high efficiency converters with a conversion rate efficiencies greater than 98 percent can be used, with two converter beds with inter-bed cooling.

As shown in FIGS. 2, sulfur source 340 is connected to SO.sub.2 generator skid 310 and supplies liquified elemental sulfur for combustion directly to furnace 320. As noted above, however, the sulfur source feedstock suitable with this invention may be provided by liquid or gaseous SO.sub.2. The storage and handling of the feedstock is effected by well-known methods as described above.

Control valves 350 provided in the process air distribution conduits 313a from the process air blower 312 control the amount of process air entering the individual SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330. Control valves 352 provided in the SO.sub.2 distributing conduits 315a from the sulfur furnace 320 control the amount of SO.sub.2 delivered to the individual SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330. Mass flow meters 358 can be provided in the SO.sub.2 distributing conduits 315a to measure the flow rate of SO.sub.2 delivered to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330.

The converter heaters 334 can heat the air provided by the process air blower 312 via distribution conduits 313a to a temperature of about 800.degree. F. This process air passes through the converter 332 and the probes 336 and heats the components of the converter station 330 to a temperature suitable for SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion. Converter 334 is preferably located close to the converter inlet 335 to conserve energy and reduces the warm-up time. The SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converters assemblies 330 are preferably located immediately adjacent the probes 336.

The cross-tie systems of FIGS. 2 and 3 employ two process supply conduits for each boiler or generator unit in the system. First, one conduit 313 delivers air from the process air blower 312 to one or more air dividers 317, which divide the flow of process air into a plurality of flows in a plurality of air distributing conduits 313a which extend from the divider to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 adjacent the flue gas conduits 337 for each unit. The conduits for process air 313 and 313a can be provided by uninsulated carbon steel piping.

Second, hot SO.sub.2 /air from the sulfur furnace 320 is delivered through a single conduit 315 to another divider 319, which divides the flow of SO.sub.2 /air mixture into a plurality of flows of SO.sub.2 in a plurality of distributing conduits 315a, which extend from divider 319 to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 adjacent the flue gas conduits 337. SO.sub.2 supply conduits 315 and 315a and divider 319 are preferably constructed of insulated stainless steel. Dividers 317 and 319 are preferably located on skid 310.

Initially, each converter assembly 330 receives the same volume of process air from the blower 312. Subsequently, the volume of process air delivered to each converter station 330 may be individually controlled by control valves 350. The furnace blower 314 is a constant volume blower with an automatic control valve 316 controlled to generate desirable SO.sub.2 /air concentrations for conversion to SO.sub.3. The flow rate of SO.sub.2 supplied to the individual SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330 is individually controlled by control valves 352 and is metered by mass flow meters 358.

The delivery of sulfur from feedstock source 340 to the sulfur furnace 320 is accomplished via delivery line 342 and may be controlled by control valve 344. Sulfur source 340 includes a controllable pump 341 to provide a continuous flow of sulfur into delivery line 342. In the event sulfur is not needed at sulfur furnace 320, control valve 344 may be closed and the sulfur is recirculated via line 346 back into the feedstock storage 340.

The cross-tie conditioning system of this invention described above has four operating modes: "Warm-up"; Ready; Process; and Off. In the initial "Warm-Up" mode, the system is prepared from a cold start for the production of SO.sub.2, with a condition at "Ready" where the operating temperatures are sufficient for sulfur burning but where no SO.sub.2 is being produced. In the "Process" mode, SO.sub.2 is being produced from a combustion of sulfur in the sulfur furnace 320. If no conditioning agent is required, the sulfur furnace 320 may go into the Ready mode where the temperatures are sufficient for sulfur combustion, but where no SO.sub.2 is being produced, as noted above. In the "Off" mode, the supply of sulfur from feedstock source 340 is discontinued, the furnace blower heater 318 and the furnace blower 316 are shut down.

Process air to the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330 is also controlled in the four operating modes of the system. In the Warm-up to Ready mode, where the system is activated from a cold start, process air is heated and delivered to the inputs of the catalytic converters 332, and the converters 332 and injection probes 336 are brought to temperatures suitable to SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion and injection without condensation SO.sub.3 gas in the catalytic converter 332 and associated SO.sub.3 transport conduits and injection probes 336. In the process mode, the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion assemblies 330 are converting SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3 and delivering the SO.sub.3 through the injection probes 336 in response to the need for conditioning agent in each flue gas conduit 337 for each boiler generator unit of the system.

In the Purge mode, the flow of SO.sub.2 from boiler furnace 320 is discontinued, but the process air blower 312 and air heaters 334 remain activated to deliver heated air through the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330 and injection probes 336 to thereby remove SO.sub.3 from each converter 332 and its associated conduits and probes. An acceptable "purge" may be accomplished in 60 to 90 minutes.

After the Purge cycle has been completed, the process air loop is shut down and the system is in the "Off" mode.

Both the cross-tie sulfur furnace operating loop and the process air operating loop can be provided with emergency stop (E-Stop) switches on the control panel for emergencies. A plant controller 322, which may be located at the skid 310 or remote station, or automatically control all of the operations of the cross-tie conditioning system 300. The sulfur furnace 320 supplies SO.sub.2 for all of the operating boiler or generator units 1-3, but the system is operated to achieve individually controlled SO.sub.3 production for the operating needs of each boiler or generator unit.

To activate system 300 and to begin the "Warm-up" mode, both blowers 312 and 314 are activated at the SO.sub.2 generator skid 310. During the Warm-up mode, the process air blower 312 delivers equal amounts of process air to each of the three converter stations 330. The flow of the process air is controlled by control valves 350 provided in each of the air distributing conduits 313a. If desirable, an automated valve (not shown) may also be provided at the process air blower 312 to control its flow. The conversion assembly air heaters 334 are also activated, and the process air temperatures at the outlets of converters 332 is continuously increased until they reach an acceptable operating temperature of approximately 800.degree. F. and until the inlet temperatures at the injection probes 336 exceed 600.degree. F.

At this point, the furnace blower 314 is activated and begins providing a flow of air, controlled by automatic control valve 316, to sulfur furnace 320 for sulfur combustion. The furnace air heater 318 is also activated and brings the furnace air and furnace temperature to an acceptable operating temperature of approximately 700.degree.-800.degree. F.

When all set point temperature alarms are clear, i.e., when all of the temperatures are at operating levels, the system is then ready to burn sulfur and provide SO.sub.2 to the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330. The system is then in the "Ready" mode.

The system 300 is now ready to begin the "Process" mode upon command. Upon being activated, the sulfur pump 341 pumps sulfur from feedstock storage 340 to sulfur furnace 320 through delivery line 342 and valve 344 to be burned at a rate to accommodate the total demand for conditioning agent by each precipitator (not shown in FIG. 12) associated with each flue gas conduit 337. Load demand is measured by summing individual unit load signals generated, for example, by conventional 4-10 ma. control signals derived from steam flow, boiler load, electric power demand and the like from each boiler or generator unit in the system. The need for conditioning agent for the flue gas of each of the boilers or generator units in the system may be determined by monitoring one or a combination of the following: fly ash resistivity; precipitator power consumption; concentration of SO.sub.2 in the flue gas emitted into the atmosphere; and/or opacity of the stack effluent.

The control means 322 of the conditioning system considers the sulfur as a fuel so that the sulfur combustion at sulfur furnace 320 can be controlled by two established fuel-control principles. In this case, the two "fuels" may be elemental sulfur (which generate 4,000 BTUs/pound), and the furnace heating energy added to the sulfur furnace 320 by air heater 318, for example, by electrical energy, fuel oil, or gas. Thus, as the conditioning agent demand for the connected units 1-3 increases, more sulfur is delivered to and burned by sulfur furnace 320 and less added energy is required to maintain furnace operation at an acceptable operating level. Where conditioning agent demand and the associated burning of sulfur can maintain a satisfactory operating temperature of the sulfur furnace 320, the control means 322 deactivates the furnace heater 318 as no additional heat is required. When conditioning agent demand decreases, the furnace air heater 318 is energized by control means 322 to maintain the temperature of the sulfur furnace 320 at an acceptable operating level. Such a method of two fuel combustion control is simple and economic, and does not require accurate measurement of elemental sulfur consumption at the sulfur furnace 320.

The SO.sub.2 generated by the sulfur furnace 320 flows via distribution conduits 315, 315a to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330. Each of the plurality of flows of SO.sub.2 through each of the plurality of distribution conduits 315a is controlled by a control valve 352 to provide the conditioning agent needed for effective operation of the electrostatic precipitator of each boiler or generating unit. The flows of SO.sub.2 and heated process air are controlled so they may be combined to provide a correct mixture of SO.sub.2 and air at the correct temperature at each converter inlet 335 of each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 for effective SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion.

Operation of each of the systems to supply conditioning agent to each of the flue gas conduits 337 is preferably effected by controller 322 and one or more of conditioning agent demand control apparatus like that disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 07/882,835, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The combination of such conditioning agent demand control apparatus in this invention permits a determination of a satisfactory resistivity condition of the particulate matter collected within each electrostatic precipitator associated with each flue gas conduit 337, and may permit closing of one or more control valves 352 for periods of several hours. In such systems, the control means 322 for the system can be connected with the electrostatic precipitator control of each boiler or generator unit in the system, which can be adapted to sense a discharge rate of a charged precipitator electrode as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/882,835.

Other control means can be used, however, for the system. For example, for each connected boiler or generator unit the control means 322 can monitor the operation of its electrostatic precipitator and the opacity of the flue gas emitted from its stack. To this end, control means 322 can be coupled to each electrostatic precipitator control in the system and determine the power used by each electrostatic precipitator in removing particulate matter from the flue gas. Control means 322 can also be coupled to each opacity meter in the system and determine the opacity of the effluent from each stack. Control means 322 may thus determine changes in the opacity of the effluent from each stack that accompany such transient conditions as boiler upsets due to the incomplete combustion of coal or carbon carryover from coal combustion, ash-handling problems, precipitator rapping, boiler soot blowing and other such transient changes in operation which cannot be corrected by SO.sub.3 -conditioning methods and provide a conditioning agent demand signal for operation of assembly 20 as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,154.

In operation of the system, the SO.sub.2 flow to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly may be determined by its associated mass flow meter 358, each of which may be connected to controller 322.

A controller suitable for inclusion in control means 322 is Allen-Bradley's T30 Plant Floor Terminal Programmable Controller, or Bristol-Babcock's Network 3000 Compatible Intelligent Controller, but other equivalent programmable controllers can also be used. Indeed, control means 322 can be provided by a programmable microprocessor and random access memory.

The operation of each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 can be effected as follows. As noted, SO.sub.2 flow can be measured by mass flow meters 358 and controlled by control valves 352 in response to unit load and trim signals. Mass flow meter 358 can measure the SO.sub.2 flow rate and direct this information to control means 322, which then compares the measured SO.sub.2 flow rate with the temperature required at the converter inlet 335 by using look-up tables stored in its memory. Depending on the SO.sub.2 concentration and the flow rate of the process air, the control means 322 operates the converter heater 334 to adjust the air temperature entering the converter 332 to effect efficient SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion. As more SO.sub.2 is directed into the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330, the process air control valve 350 will be operated to provide a correct SO.sub.2 /air mixture for conversion, and the output of converter heater 334 can be adjusted to improve SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion. If desirable, the volume of process air blower 312 can also be reduced while maintaining preferred SO.sub.2 concentrations at the converter inlets 335 to reduce energy consumption by the system 300. As described above, each converter station 330 works independently of the others in effecting SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion for proper conditioning of the flue gas from the power plant unit to which it is adjoined.

In the event SO.sub.3 is no longer required for conditioning a boiler or generating unit because of unit load and/or favorable precipitator operating conditions, the SO.sub.2 control valve 352 closes, thereby discontinuing the generation of SO.sub.3. At this point, the process air control valve 350 opens fully and the system 300 is in the Purge mode where hot air flows through the converter assembly 330 and connected injectors 336 and the station remains in a Ready state with set point temperatures suiting SO.sub.3 production. In this "Ready" mode, SO.sub.3 can be made at once upon command. Because one or more of the converter stations is no longer generating SO.sub.3, the control means 322 reduces the total demand for SO.sub.2 to match the new lower SO.sub.2 requirement, and less sulfur is therefore admitted into and combusted in the sulfur furnace 320.

When any one of the boilers or generating units is shut down and its supply system is in the "Purge" cycle, hot process air from process air blower 312 is directed through its SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 at temperatures of approximately 800.degree. F. and above. During this cycle, its converter heater 334 is activated to maintain the elevated temperature of the process air as it flows through the converter assembly 330 and connected injection probes. When the purge cycle ends, the converter heater 334 is deactivated, the process air control valve 350 is closed and a vent valve located at the converter inlet 335 (not shown) is opened, all by control means 322. At this point, the individual SO.sub.3 converter assembly 330 is out of service and control means 322 consequently reduces the variable speed drive output of the process air blower 312 to allow for the reduced demand for process air. The output of the sulfur furnace 320 is thus continually varied to generate a sufficient amount of SO.sub.2 to suit the demands of one or a combination of all of the power-generating units in the cross-tie system of this invention.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a cross-tie flue gas conditioning system provided by this invention. While FIG. 3 shows three power-generating units, units 1-3 as an example, any number of power-generating units can be tied in with and conditioned by the cross-tie conditioning system of this invention just like the system of FIG. 2. In contrast to the cross-tie embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cross-tie system 360 shown in FIG. 3 uses SO.sub.2 as a source of sulfur, compared with system 300 of FIG. 2 which uses elemental sulfur as the feedstock and a sulfur furnace to convert it to SO.sub.2. The cross-tie system 360 using SO.sub.2 is of similar design to sulfur-burning cross-tie system 300 of FIG. 2 except that SO.sub.2 from a source of liquid SO.sub.2 is piped as a gas directly to each SO.sub.2 control valves 352. The SO.sub.2 control valves 352 meter SO.sub.2 into the converter station 330'. System 360 further includes an equipment skid 362, which can carry a variable speed drive process air blower (not shown), as described above in relation to process air blower 312 in FIG. 2. This process air blower directs process air through air distribution conduits 313' and 313a'which are preferably constructed of uninsulated carbon steel. The SO.sub.2 is delivered to the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter stations 330' through distributing conduits 315' and 315a', which are preferably constructed of insulated stainless steel piping. As before, each of the SO.sub.2 control valves 352 is independently controlled by a control means as described above to provide the desired SO.sub.3 conditioning agent for each of the power-generating units 1-3. The operating mode of system 360 is similar to that of the sulfur-burning system 300, described in relation to FIG. 2 and a detailed discussion will not be presented. In the system 360 of FIG. 3, the SO.sub.2 feedstock is preferably stored in liquid state in a remote storage facility (not shown) and can be vaporized at the storage facility or at the skid 362.

Each of the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330' can include a plurality of SO.sub.2 injection probes 336' and, in this embodiment, a separate SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter 332 can be provided for each of the plurality of injection probes 336'. If desired, however, a single converter 32 may be provided to supply conditioning to all of the injection probes 336' situated in the flue gas conduits of power-generating units 1-3.

The cross-tie conditioning system of this invention shown and described in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3 have the same flexibility and control as individual SO.sub.3 generating plants, and their designs are simple, flexible and economical.

The invention thus provides an improved apparatus for conditioning boiler flue gas with sulfur trioxide for removal of entrained particles with an electrostatic precipitator. One such improved apparatus includes an integrated assembly adapted for providing a flow of air and sulfur dioxide at a temperature in excess of the condensation temperature of sulfurous acid. The integrated assembly includes first means for providing a flow of sulfur dioxide, second means for providing a flow of heated air, third means for dividing the flows of sulfur dioxide and air into a plurality of flows of sulfur dioxide and air for conversion to sulfur trioxide and injection into the boiler flue gas at a plurality of injection sites upstream of the electrostatic precipitator, and fourth means for supporting and carrying said first, second and third means as an integrated assembly. In a preferred integrated assembly of such apparatus, the first means comprises a sulfur burner having a sulfur input and air input and a sulfur dioxide output, and an insulated conduit interconnecting the sulfur burner with a sulfur dioxide flow divider, an air blower and air flow divider connected with the air blower and having a plurality of first outputs.

In such apparatus, one or more sulfur dioxide conversion assemblies, such as the two-stage catalytic converters 400 shown in FIG. 4, may be located remotely from the integrated assembly adjacent the injection sites and away from work areas. In the improved apparatus, a plurality of such compact sulfur dioxide conversion assemblies can be adapted for support and location remote from the integrated assembly adjacent a plurality of flue gas conduits at injection sites for sulfur trioxide upstream of their electrostatic precipitators. An example of such installation is shown in FIG. 5. Each such sulfur dioxide converter (as shown, for example, in FIG. 4) is adapted for Connection with one of the plurality of flows of sulfur dioxide and air. The heaters and catalytic converters have a physical size and a heating and conversion capacity permitting their close location to one of the injection sites for sulfur trioxide.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a two stage SO.sub.2 conversion assembly 400 that may be used in the invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the catalytic converter includes an inlet 401 which may be connected with a flow of sulfur dioxide and air from a distributing conduit 315a as described above. The second stage SO.sub.2 conversion assembly 400 comprises a first stage catalytic converter 402 and a second stage catalytic converter interconnected with a cooling conduit 404. Each catalytic converter 402, 403' can comprise an identical cannister 405 constructed of a stainless steel, which may have a diameter of six to eight inches and a length of 18-24 inches. Each catalytic converter 402, 403 contains a catalyst bed 406, 407 of vanadium pentoxide which has been applied to ceramic substrates, as well known in the art. The catalyst is held in the catalytic converter by foraminous spacers 410 and 411, as shown in FIG. 4. An output 408 extends from the second stage canister 403 and is adapted to be connected to one or more injection probes. The catalytic converter shown in FIG. 4 may, of course, be made larger or smaller cannisters 405 and catalyst beds and with different size cannisters 405 for each stage to accommodate its application. As shown in FIG. 4, two such catalytic converter canisters 405 may be interconnected with an intervening cooling conduit 404 to provide two-stage conversion of SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3. In the two-stage conversion apparatus of FIG. 4, the intervening cooling loop can be designed to provide, corresponding to the temperature rise in the first stage cannister 402 due to the exothermic catalytic conversion SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3, an interstage temperature reduction for example 160.degree.-200.degree. F. In addition a temperature sensor 409 may be placed in the interstage conduit 409 and connected with the controller 322 for control of the interstage temperature. The interstage cooling may be provided with a single conduit loop or may require a small heat exchanger in the interstage connectors.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary installation of a small remote catalytic converter 332,332' adjacent a flue gas conduit 337, 337'. Of course, because of the flexibility resulting from the small and convenient catalytic converter sizes used in the invention, the method of installation is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5.

Systems of the invention, including the new control methods and apparatus, are uncomplicated, are capable of an effective supply of sulfur trioxide for conditioning boiler flue gas prior to its passage through an electrostatic precipitator, and are controllable to maintain minimal opacity of the flue gasses that pass into atmosphere from the boiler stack. The invention provides a non-complex, direct system for providing minimal opacity of stack effluents and minimal pollution from boiler flue gas particulate matter in installation with a plurality of boilers and power-generating units.

For example, the process air lines 313, 313a, 313' and 313a' can be made of uninsulated carbon steel to reduce construction costs. The system 300 can utilize the heat generated by sulfur combustion for much of the heat necessary to generate SO.sub.2 at satisfactory temperatures, thereby reducing the need for activating furnace heater 318 and the overall energy consumed by system 300. The SO.sub.2 -generating skid 310, shown in FIG. 2, and the equipment skid 362, shown in FIG. 3, can be located virtually anywhere in relation to the boilers or power-generating units, thereby providing ease and versatility in the installation of the cross-tie system 300. Further, in system 300, the converter heaters 334 can be arranged near the catalytic converters 332 in assemblies to conserve energy and reduce warm-up times. Similarly, the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assemblies 330 and 330' can be arranged near the SO.sub.3 injection probes for each unit to minimize the distance and reduce the energy necessary to operate the system at suitable operating temperatures, and each individual SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter assembly can include one or more SO.sub. 2 /SO.sub.3 converters in a simple assembly providing efficient two-stage conversion at SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3, other such important features and advantage are apparent from the drawing and foregoing description of the invention.

While presently preferred embodiments and other less preferred embodiments of the invention are described above, those skilled in the art will recognize that other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for conditioning a plurality of flue gas streams in a plurality of flue gas conduits from a plurality of boilers for removal of particulate matter by electrostatic precipitation, comprising:

means for providing a single flow of air;

means for dividing the flow of air into a plurality of flows of air in a plurality of air distributing conduits, each of the air distributing conduits extending from said air dividing means to adjacent one of the plurality of flue gas conduits;

a plurality of temperature controlling air heaters, each one of said plurality of air heaters having its input connected with the input of one of the air distributing conduits and its output connected with one of the catalytic converters;

means for providing a single flowing mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and air;

means for dividing the single flowing mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and air into a plurality of flows of sulfur dioxide gas and air in a plurality of distribution conduits, each distribution conduit extending from said dividing means to adjacent one of the plurality of flue gas conduits;

a plurality of catalytic converters for converting sulfur dioxide and air into sulfur trioxide conditioning agent, each one of said plurality of catalytic converters being connected with one of the distribution conduits at its input end and with means to inject sulfur trioxide into one of the plurality flue gas conduits of one of the plurality of boilers at its output end.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a heater is provided for at least one of the plurality of flows of sulfur dioxide gas and air from one of the distribution conduits adjacent the input of one of the catalytic converters.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of flow control valves, each one of the plurality of flow control valves being connected to control the flow of sulfur dioxide and air in one of the distribution conduits, and a control having a plurality of control outputs, each of said plurality of control outputs being connected to one of said flow control valves, said control being adapted for determining the need for conditioning agent for the flue gas flowing in each of the flue gas conduits in the system and for operation of said flow control valves to control the flows of sulfur dioxide and air through said distribution conduits for conversion to sulfur trioxide.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of catalytic converters provides two-stage conversion of the sulfur dioxide and air to sulfur trioxide.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said catalytic converter providing two-stage conversion comprises two individual catalytic converters interconnected with a cooling conduit.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said two individual catalytic converters are arranged side by side with said cooling conduit looped therebetween.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of catalytic converters has a size and capacity matched to the maximum flow of sulfur trioxide needed to condition flue gas from the boiler with which it is connected.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein at said control comprises means for determining a rate of discharge of a charged electrode of an electrostatic precipitator in the system and means for generating a conditioning agent demand signal based on said discharge rate of said charged electrode and for transmitting said conditioning agent demand signal to said control.

9. A method system for conditioning a flow of boiler flue gas with sulfur trioxide for treatment by electrostatic precipitator, comprising:

means for providing a flow of sulfur dioxide and air at a temperature above the condensation temperature of sulfurous acid;

means for dividing the flow of sulfur dioxide and air into a plurality of reduce volume flows of sulfur dioxide and air;

means for carrying the plurality of reduced volume flows of sulfur dioxide and air to a plurality of separate injection sites for conversion to sulfur trioxide and for injection of sulfur trioxide into the flow of boiler flue gas while maintaining the plurality of reduced volume flows above the condensation temperature of sulfurous acid;

means for providing each reduced volume flow of sulfur dioxide and air at a temperature in excess of the minimum temperature for its catalytic conversion to sulfur trioxide at one of the plurality of injection sites;

means for converting each reduced volume flow of sulfur dioxide and air into a flow of sulfur trioxide at one of the plurality of injection sites to thereby provide a reduced volume flow of sulfur trioxide sufficient for injection at each injection site; and

means for immediately injecting each of the reduced volume flows of sulfur trioxide into the flow of boiler flue gas at each of the plurality of separated injection sites.

10. In a method of conditioning a flow of boiler flue gas with a flow of sulfur trioxide for removal of entrained particulate matter by electrostatic means the steps of:

providing a sulfur burner with a gas-fired heater in heat transfer relationship thereto;

delivering a flow of sulfur to the sulfur burner;

providing a controlled flow of air into the sulfur burner;

combusting the sulfur in the sulfur burner to provide a flow of sulfur dioxide and air as an output;

determining the rate of sulfur flow into the sulfur burner;

calculating the concentration of sulfur dioxide in air in the output of the sulfur burner from the flows of sulfur and air into the sulfur burner;

providing a plurality of temperature controllable catalytic converters, each catalytic converter including a first stage and a second stage;

determining the temperatures between the first stages and the second stages of each of the plurality of catalytic converters; and

generating control signals to control the temperatures of each of the plurality of catalytic converters to maintain desirable temperatures between the first stages and the second stages of the plurality of catalytic converters while controlling the sulfur dioxide concentration of the sulfur burner output.

11. Apparatus for conditioning flue gas with sulfur trioxide for removal of entrained particles with an electrostatic precipitator comprising:

means for providing a flow of sulfur dioxide gas in air, including a sulfur burner, means for providing said sulfur burner with a flow of air, means for providing said sulfur burner with a flow of sulfur, and means for heating said sulfur burner;

a plurality of temperature controlled catalytic converter assemblies, each catalytic converter assembly comprising a catalytic converter comprising a first catalytic converter stage and a second catalytic converter stage and a heater;

a plurality of temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures between the first catalytic converter stages and the second catalytic converter stages of each of the catalytic converter assemblies; and

a controller connected with said means for providing the sulfur burner with a flow of sulfur, said plurality of catalytic converter temperature controller and said plurality of temperature sensors, said controller being programmed to calculate the concentration of sulfur dioxide in air and operate each catalytic converter temperature controller in response to the temperature between the first stage and second stage of each catalytic converter to maintain and improve the efficient conversion of sulfur dioxide and air to sulfur trioxide and air.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of said temperature controlled catalytic converters assemblies includes an air heater at its input, and further comprising means for providing said catalytic converter assemblers with a flow of air, comprising a source of a single flow of air, and an air flow divider connected with each of the heaters of the plurality of each of catalytic converter assemblies for introducing a flow of heated air to each catalytic converter assembly.

13. A system for conditioning flue gas produced by a plurality of power-generating units with sulfur trioxide for removal of entrained particles by electrostatic precipitation from the flue gas carried by the plurality of conduits of the power generating units, comprising:

an integrated apparatus assembly including means for providing a flow of sulfur dioxide and air for each power-generating unit and means for providing a flow of air;

a plurality of sulfur dioxide conversion assemblies with each one of the plurality of sulfur dioxide converter assemblies being positioned adjacent a different one of the flue gas conduits of the generating units, and being connected with said means for producing a flow of sulfur dioxide and air and said means for producing a flow of air of said integrated assembly, each sulfur dioxide conversion assembly comprising an air temperature control means for the flow of air from said means for producing a flow of air, and a contiguous small catalytic converter, said controlled air flow from said air temperature control means being introduced at an inlet of the catalytic converter; and

a control means connected with said means for providing a controlled flow of sulfur dioxide, said means for providing a controlled air flow and said air temperature control means, said control means being adapted to, based on the individual operating needs of each power-generating unit, separately provide sulfur dioxide 2nd air with controlled temperature and concentration to the catalytic converter at each flue gas conduit of each generating unit for SO.sub.3 conversion to condition the flue gas of each generating unit.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for providing a controlled flow of sulfur dioxide gas comprises a sulfur burner, means for providing said sulfur burner with a flow of air, means for providing said sulfur burner with a flow of sulfur, and means for heating said sulfur burner.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for heating the sulfur burner comprises a gas-fired heater and a controllable valve connected with said controller to vary the flow of gas to said gas-fired heater.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for providing a controlled flow of sulfur dioxide and air and said controller are part of an integrated assembly for installation at a first convenient location, and said plurality of sulfur dioxide converter assemblies are adapted for installation at remote locations.

17. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for determining the sulfur content of the boiler fuel of each power-generating unit; and

means for providing data on the sulfur content of the boiler fuel to said controller,

said controller varying the rate of conditioning agent flow provided to each power-generating unit to compensate for changes in the sulfur content of the boiler flue.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for providing a controlled flow of sulfur dioxide gas includes a source of liquified sulfur dioxide and means for vaporizing said liquified sulfur dioxide to produce sulfur dioxide gas.

19. An apparatus for separately conditioning flue gas from a plurality of power-generating boiler units with a sulfur trioxide for removal of entrained particles by electrostatic precipitation, comprising:

a single SO.sub.2 -generating means;

a plurality of SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 -converting means, one SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 -converting means being located at each conduit for the flue gas of each of the plurality of boiler units;

a source of elemental sulfur;

first means for delivering a controlled flow of air to each said SO.sub.3 -converting means, said first means including a controllable flow control valve;

second means for delivering a controlled flow of SO.sub.2 and air mixture from said SO.sub.2 -generating means to each said SO.sub.3 -converting means, said second means including a controllable flow control valve, said means for delivering a controlled flow of SO.sub.2 and air being separate from said means for delivering a controlled flow of air; and

means for controlling the operation of said apparatus to separately modulate the feedrate of SO.sub.3 to the flue gas at each boiler unit dependent upon the respective operating needs of said individual boiler unit, said control means being connected with said SO.sub.3 -converting means, said sulfur source, and said controllable flow control values of said first and second delivering means.

20. The flue gas conditioning apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said single SO.sub.2 -generating means includes a variable speed process air blower, a sulfur burner, a constant volume, valve-controlled air blower for the sulfur burner, and a air heater for the sulfur burner blower, and

wherein each said SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 -converting means includes a process air heater and one or more SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 catalytic converters.

21. The flue gas conditioning apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for delivering a controlled flow of air to each said SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 -converting means includes a plurality of conduits and a plurality of control valves located within said plurality of conduits, with at least one air control valve being positioned in the conduit to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 -connecting means, said conduits being arranged to deliver said flow of air to the inlet openings of said SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converting means and said at least one air control valve being adapted to control the air to the SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converter means inlet,

wherein said means for delivering a controlled flow of SO.sub.2 to each said SO.sub.3 -converting means includes a plurality of thermally insulated conduits said thermally insulated piping being arranged to deliver said flow of SO.sub.2 to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converting means and a plurality of SO.sub.2 flow control valves and mass flow meters located in said plurality of thermally insulated conduits with at least one SO.sub.2 flow control valve and one mass flow meter being positioned in the SO.sub.2 conduit to SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 connecting means, said at least one SO.sub.2 flow control valve being adapted to selectively admit SO.sub.2 to a connected catalytic converter, said at least one mass flow meter being adapted to measure the quantity of SO.sub.2 admitted to the connected catalytic converter unit, and

wherein said control means, based on the individual and collective operating demands of said boiler units, is programmed to control the sulfur feedrate to the sulfur burner, the volume of the process air flow generated by said air blower, the volume of the burner blower by modulating the control valve coupled therewith, and the temperature of the air introduced into the sulfur burner by selectively operating the burner heater, and to separately control the temperature of the air flow delivered to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 connecting means by controlling operation of the catalytic converter heater, to separately control the volume of the process air flow delivery to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 by controlling operation of the at least one air control valve located in the air conduit to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 connecting means and to separately control the volume of SO.sub.2 delivered to each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 connecting means by controlling operation of the at least one SO.sub.2 control valve located in each SO.sub.2 conduit to each boiler unit.

22. The system as in claim 21 wherein the process air blower is of a selected size to provide approximately fifty percent (50%) of the total air volume needed for all of the boiler units, and the speed thereof is varied to accommodate the process air demand to maintain an efficient level of SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion at each SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 connecting means.

23. The system as in claim 19 wherein the SO.sub.2 is provided by the sulfur burner at a concentration of approximately ten percent (10%).

24. The system as in claim 19 wherein the SO.sub.3 and air mixture from at least one SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 connecting means is delivered to the SO.sub.3 -injection devices at a concentration of approximately two to six percent SO.sub.3.

25. The system as in claim 21 wherein the sulfur burner heater maintains the temperature of the air delivered to the sulfur burner at a minimum of approximately 700.degree. F. to effect spontaneous combustion of sulfur.

26. The system as in claim 21 wherein at least one catalytic converter heater unit maintains the temperature of the air flow delivered to the connected SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 converting means at approximately 800.degree. F.

27. The system as in claim 21 wherein the control means monitors one or a combination of the following conditions to control the generation of at least one conditioning system: fly ash resistivity, precipitator power consumption, flue gas SO.sub.2 levels and/or stack opacity.

28. The system as in claim 21 wherein the control means is adapted to increase the quantity of sulfur combusted when SO.sub.3 demand increases and to selectively deenergize the blower heater when the heat generated by the sulfur combustion alone maintains the furnace outlet temperature at acceptable operating levels, and to decrease the quantity of sulfur combusted when SO.sub.3 demand decreases and to selectively energize the blower heater to maintain the furnace outlet temperature at acceptable operating levels.

29. The system as in claim 21 wherein the mass flow meter measures SO.sub.2 delivered to the converter unit and provides this information to the control means, and said control means compares this information with a pre-determined desirable temperature at the inlet of the converter unit and, based on that comparison, modulates the output of the converter heater unit to adjust the ambient air temperature at the converter unit inlet and modulates the SO.sub.2 /air ratio delivered to the converter unit by adjusting the ambient air control valve at each boiler unit to maximize SO.sub.2 /SO.sub.3 conversion.

30. A method of separately conditioning boiler flue gas of two or more power-generating units for removal of entrained particulate matter by electrostatic means, comprising:

providing a flow of sulfur dioxide and air at a temperature above the condensation temperature of sulfurous acid;

providing a separate flow of process air;

carrying the flow of sulfur dioxide and air to a plurality of separate injection sites for conversion to sulfur trioxide and injection of sulfur trioxide into the boiler flue gas of each of said two or more power-generating units;

carrying the flow of process air to said plurality of separate injection sites;

controlling the temperature of the SO.sub.2 and air gas by mixing tested process air therewith after heating the flow of process prior to its entry into a catalytic converter;

converting each flow of sulfur dioxide and air into a flow of sulfur trioxide at each of the plurality of injection sites by a separate catalytic converter to thereby provide a flow of sulfur trioxide sufficient for injection at each injection site; and

immediately; injecting each of the flows of sulfur trioxide into the flow of boiler flue gas at each of the plurality of separated injection sites.