Services
On-site trials
Process optimization
Laboratory services
The Lhoist Group is a global leader in lime, dolime and minerals, with a worldwide presence of more than 100 facilities in 25 countries.
We provide cost-effective solutions for the broadest range of applications with:
- premium-quality products
- worldwide reliable supply
- best in class customer services and technical expertise
Our offer is also based on the services of our strong international Research & Development team and local technical centers in Europe, the Americas and Asia, supported by strategic collaboration with universities and industrial partners. We work also closely with FGT system designers and suppliers as well as industry technical consultants and engineering firms.
OUR EXPERTISE AT YOUR SERVICE
For over 20 years Lhoist’s corporate Research & Development center has been developing innovative lime products, providing technical service and generating application knowhow for the FGT industry. Our R&D teams work worldwide in close collaboration with our local commercial staff and customers.
Our laboratories use state-of-the-art analytical equipment to characterize the fresh sorbent and FGT residue/ash from your installation. In addition, we have developed application tests to benchmark the sorbent performance in all types of FGT applications.
Analytical services
Our analytical services aim at better understanding the FGT process through analyzing solid sorbents, reaction products and ash materials. Taking samples from your FGT operation, our experts can assess its efficiency by conducting a detailed analysis of the materials. The analysis techniques include:
- International standardized test methods
- Surface area and pore volume (BET and BJH method)
- Macro pore size distribution
- Particle size analysis
- Various thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques
- Phase and composition reconstruction of flue gas treatment residue
- Assessment of the flow behavior of powders
- Leaching tests (TCLP/SPLP)
Application performance tests
In our laboratories we can simulate FGT processes using bench- and pilot-scale equipment. Operating conditions are replicated and the performance of sorbents can be determined. These tests are used in the design of new installations and the optimization of customer processes, and to ensure the highest quality and competitiveness of our manufactured products.
Bench-scale capabilities
- Fully automated fixed bed tests for acid-gas dry sorbent uptake capacity
- Mercury (ionic and/or metallic) dry sorbent uptake capacity
- Dioxin and volatile organics dry sorbent uptake capacity
- Uptake capacity test for granulated sorbent materials
- Reactivity tests for lime slurry in spray dry absorber applications
- Limestone reactivity tests for wet scrubbing applications
Pilot-scale units
- Down-flow entrained flow reactor for dry sorbent injection (DSI) in-duct removal tests
- Up-flow entrained flow reactor with bag filter for DSI filtration tests
- Circulating dry scrubber (CDS) reactor including residue conditioning
Our teams work closely with you to ensure the optimal operation of your FGT process. This is done with a variety of tools and services. Lhoist North America (LNA) has a team of experienced engineers that are focused on identifying the best calcium-based solutions for utility and industrial operators’ emission control challenges. This team has well over 100 years of collective experience in emission control applications with an emphasis on acid gas control. Notably, LNA’s FGT team reintroduced calcium based dry sorbent injection (DSI) technology for acid gas control to industries needing solutions to new emission control concerns of “blue plume.”
Whether developing a solution for a new rule impacting your facility, increasing performance over your current solution or lowering your compliance costs, LNA experts are available to meet and provide advice on potential solutions for your specific facility.
On-site visits enable our experts to collect FGT residue samples and measure flue gas composition. Computer simulation – using computational fluid dynamics and reaction kinetic models – allows accurate predictions of your process. We offer a suite of proprietary process equipment designed to improve the industrial performance of our sorbents in your system.
Process modeling
Macroscopic simulation of the mixing behavior of our sorbents in the flue gas is carried out with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). With CFD we can, for instance, optimize the positioning of the Sorbacal® injection lances to take advantage of the flow dynamics of the flue gas in the duct.
On a microscopic scale our reaction kinetic models predict the reactivity of our sorbents as a function of the flue gas composition and process conditions. The complex interaction between gas composition, sorbent pore structure, injection location and the particulate separation unit are captured in predictive engineering models.
Process Equipment
We have a combination of commercially available and proprietary equipment that maximizes the performance of our products in your process.
Sorbent storage and injection systems
Lhoist has injection systems, as well as an engineering team to install them at your site for short term trials. Our systems provide reliable and accurate dosing of our sorbents for your process.
In the US, we can place bulk-feed systems on site for large-scale trials, typically at utility boilers or large industrial applications. This allows the injection of hydrated lime ranging from 200 to over 16,000 lbs/hr. For more modest industrial applications we use a smaller super sack feed system. It can inject hydrated lime or Sorbacal® blend products at rates from just 40 up to 1,500 lbs/ hr.
FGT real-time measurements
In the US, Lhoist has invested in a mobile analysis unit, equipped with two Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) systems. These enable real-time measurement of both inlet and outlet flue gas properties, including acid-gas pollutants such as SO2, HCl and HF. During a trial this data allows us to adjust parameters such as injection rate and location as well as measure overall performance real-time. Not only does this information validate DSI effectiveness, it also provides critical information for general system design.
Infrasonic clog-prevention system
The Infrason system emits low-frequency sound waves into the pneumatic conveying lines to prevent clogging inside the tubes. The system reduces the maintenance time of the sorbent injection unit and facilitates Sorbacal® dosing.
Venturi injection system
The Venturi injector uses a secondary airflow to inject the dry sorbent into the flue gas. This results in deeper penetration of the sorbent plume and improved dispersion throughout the flue gas. The Venturi injector is especially suited for furnace sorbent injection where proper dispersion is critical.
Lime slurry systems
We offer several systems to prepare lime slurries.
A mobile hot-lime-slurry production system, PORTA BATCH® is a cost-effective and convenient way to either provide lime slurry on site for a customer or deliver it to various customers.
The self-contained, diesel-powered unit can slake quicklime (calcium oxide) or slurry hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) to the percentage of solids required for each application. Controlled batching features – such as accurate lime/water ratios, slaking temperature and agitation – produce homogeneous lime slurry with a fine particle size. These particles have a greater surface area, allowing faster reactivity and higher lime utilization.
Lhoist North America has successfully used PORTA BATCH® since 1984 to meet the needs of diverse customers. It is ideal not only for flue gas desulfurization projects, but also for soil stabilization, recycled asphalt pavement, acid neutralization, water and wastewater treatment, and environmental remediation.
For commercial delivery we can locate these unique slakers in regional areas to provide this cost-effective, industrial lime slurry to a wide variety of customers and applications. Typically, delivery is made in a 5,000-gallon tanker containing 7-10 short tons of calcium hydroxide slurry (dry weight), which is transferred to the customer’s slurry storage vessel.
Sorbent consumption estimates
More than two decades of experience with commercial FGT installations – combined with our theoretical reaction engineering models – allow our experts to estimate the required Sorbacal® consumption. This service is offered to equipment designers and suppliers of new FGT installations and is used by our teams to troubleshoot and optimize existing installations.
We are fully equipped to carry out on-site customer trials with our own injection and storage equipment, specialized injection companies and/or your installed DSI installation.
Lhoist North America has performed DSI trials for more than 10 years and has the equipment and expertise to complete a comprehensive DSI trial. We have performed trials at a wide variety of utility and industrial processes, including pulverized coal boilers, CFB boilers, cement kilns, glass furnaces, MSW incinerators and biomass facilities covering a broad range of acid gas pollutants including SO2, SO3, HCl and HF.
During a trial our technical teams can use our portable on-line flue gas analyzers to measure the gas phase removal efficiency, and collect sorbent and residue samples for detailed off-line analysis in our laboratories.
Our experts can evaluate and troubleshoot your lime handling processes, including:
- sorbent injection
- lime slurry preparation
- wet and dry slaking
- silo storage
- pneumatic conveying
The logistics involved in delivering finished products to our diverse customers depends on the distance, geographical position and site storage constraints, as well as the means of transport available.
Logistics solutions
We have developed logistics solutions enabling our products to be transported in many forms; from big bags (supersacks) to bulk anywhere in the world through:
- national and international transportation by truck and rail
- barge services and transfers from inland terminals
- storage in dedicated facilities at inland terminals and seaports worldwide
- modern harbor loading equipment
- chartering vessels, short or long term
Vendor managed inventory (VMI)
With this modern supply chain management system, we can manage your inventory. Working closely with you, we use electronically transmitted inventory data to plan the optimum delivery time and restock quantity. This comprehensive VMI solution brings you a number of benefits.
- Know your current inventory data anytime, anywhere, without time or material bottlenecks.
- Automatically know if your inventory in silos and tanks falls below defined levels.
- Initiate repeat orders quickly and electronically.
- Optimize and ease your handling and restocking.
Overall, procurement becomes more reliable and requires less work and time.