Artificial Intelligence-Based Emission Reduction Strategy for Limestone Forced Oxidation Flue Gas Desulfurization System

The emissions from coal power plants have serious implication on the environment protection, and there is an increasing effort around the globe to control these emissions by the flue gas cleaning technologies. This research was carried out on the limestone forced oxidation (LSFO) flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system installed at the 2*660 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant. Nine input variables of the FGD system: pH, inlet sulfur dioxide (SO2), inlet temperature, inlet nitrogen oxide (NOx), inlet O2, oxidation air, absorber slurry density, inlet humidity, and inlet dust were used for the development of effective neural network process models for a comprehensive emission analysis constituting outlet SO2, outlet Hg, outlet NOx, and outlet dust emissions from the LSFO FGD system. Monte Carlo experiments were conducted on the artificial neural network process models to investigate the relationships between the input control variables and output variables. Accordingly, optimum operating ranges of all input control variables were recommended. Operating the LSFO FGD system under optimum conditions, nearly 35% and 24% reduction in SO2 emissions are possible at inlet SO2 values of 1500 mg/m3 and 1800 mg/m3, respectively, as compared to general operating conditions. Similarly, nearly 42% and 28% reduction in Hg emissions are possible at inlet SO2 values of 1500 mg/m3 and 1800 mg/m3, respectively, as compared to general operating conditions. The findings are useful for minimizing the emissions from coal power plants and the development of optimum operating strategies for the LSFO FGD system.