Technical and economic evaluation of the desulphurization processes at power stations using lignite

Due to industrial development and population growth Turkiye 's energy demand is increasing every year. Although renewable energy sources are becoming widespread these sources are not sufficient enough to meet all of the energy demand of Turkey in the near future. Therefore fossil fuels are going to be used for a long time for domestic heating and electricity production. The disadvantage of using fossil fuels is sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions during the combustion according to the sulfur content of the fuel. Turkey's energy consumption depends heavily on fossil fuels. Therefore SO₂ emission level is going to be higher than the legal limits according to Industrial Based air Pollution Control Regulation since our lignite has a low calorific heating value and high sulfur content which are 1807 kcal/kg and 1.85 % respectively. Although there are disadvantages of using lignite for electricity production it's our native energy source and by applying appropriate desulphurization methods it is possible to reduce emission of SO₂ to lower levels. Removal of SO₂ is not only legal obligation but also an act for protection of the public health and environment. Because an important effect of SO₂ is it's contribution to acid rain. Acid aerosols cause chlorosis, the loss of chlorophyll and plasmolysis, tissue collapse of leaf cells in plants. In this study, most prevalent way to prevent SO₂ emission, desulphurization flue gas after combustion of fossil fuel especially lignite, is elaborated wet scrubbing, spray dry and dry sorbent injection methods are investigated. A computer program is written to determine the lowest capital investment among those three methods of desulphurization is found as dry sorbent injection capital investment cost model for certain methods are developed as a function of plant capacity and sulfur content for trona sorbent.