Selective catalytic reduction for coal-fired power plants: feasibility and economics. Final report

The technical feasibility and economic impact of ammonia-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) processes were evaluated using recent pilot plant testing data. Eighteen design cases were analyzed for feasibility of SCR. Nine design cases were investigated for application on a coal-fired boiler burning a low sulfur coal, and nine were studied for the same application using a high sulfur coal. The SCR process affects the design and operation of downstream flue gas treating equipment. The reactor pressure drop also affects the design and operation of downstream equipment. Without equipment modifications, air heater deposition increases substantially, causing increased pressure loss and corrosion. Air heater leakage also is expected to increase as a result of SCR. Other equipment affected by the SCR system includes the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit, waste disposal system, waste water system, and fabric filter (FF) or cold-side electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Tests have been run on the FF, but long-term effects have not been determined. Estimates for total 30-y levelized costs for the low and high sulfur cases were developed using standard procedures specified by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) (Appendix A). The levelized costs range from 7.6 to 14.9 mills/kWh for the low sulfur cases and from 5.7more » to 11.1 mills/kWh for the high sulfur cases. These levelized cost estimates reflect the sum of capital and operating costs.« less