Integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process
First Claim
1. An integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process comprising:
- (a) subjecting a water stream containing hardness minerals to a water treatment process using an alkali agent to precipitate the hardness minerals and raise the pH of the water stream to at least about 8.5, thereby producing a softened alkaline water stream having a pH of at least about 8.5; and
(b) utilizing the softened alkaline water stream having a pH of at least about 8.5 to scrub a flue gas containing sulfur dioxide to produce a sulfur-lean flue gas, wherein said flue gas containing sulfur dioxide is produced by burning a high-sulfur fuel.
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Abstract
A water stream containing hardness minerals is subjected to a water treatment process using an alkali agent to precipitate the hardness minerals and to produce a softened water stream is used to create an integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process. Thereafter, the softened, alkaline water stream is utilized in a scrubber to scrub a flue gas containing sulfur dioxide to produce a sulfur-lean flue gas. The invention may be applied to a steam-based bitumen recovery operation where bitumen, sour produced gas or other sulfur containing fuels are burned for producing steam for bitumen recovery. More specifically, the associated produced water from the bitumen recovery process may be softened for re-use and for utilization as a scrubbing agent for high-sulfur containing flue gas arising from the steam generators. The process provides an economically favorable process while minimizing waste disposal requirements.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process comprising:
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(a) subjecting a water stream containing hardness minerals to a water treatment process using an alkali agent to precipitate the hardness minerals and raise the pH of the water stream to at least about 8.5, thereby producing a softened alkaline water stream having a pH of at least about 8.5; and (b) utilizing the softened alkaline water stream having a pH of at least about 8.5 to scrub a flue gas containing sulfur dioxide to produce a sulfur-lean flue gas, wherein said flue gas containing sulfur dioxide is produced by burning a high-sulfur fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated water treatment and flue gas desulfurization process comprising:
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(a) subjecting produced water containing hardness minerals and recovered from an underground reservoir in a steam injection bitumen recovery operation to a water treatment process using an alkali agent selected from the group consisting of ammonia, aqueous ammonia, and sodium hydroxide, and any combination thereof to precipitate the hardness minerals and raise the pH of the produced water to at least about 8.5, thereby producing a softened alkaline water stream having a pH of at least about 8.5; and
,(b) utilizing the softened alkaline water stream having a pH of at least about 8.5 to scrub a flue gas containing sulfur dioxide to produce a sulfur-lean flue gas and a treated water stream rich in sulfite/bisulfite for steam generation and underground steam injection, wherein said flue gas containing sulfur dioxide is produced by burning a high sulfur fuel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification