Flue gas desulfurization scrubbers for waste incineration plants can be lined with soft rubber or hard rubber for corrosion protection. Hard rubber is cured under high temperature and pressure in an autoclave. The advantage of hard rubber is the excellent temperature and chemical resistance. We have experience with hard rubber lined scrubbers that are in service without failures for over 20 years.
FIELD HISTORY
Flue gas desulphurization (FGD) scrubbers for waste incinerator plants have been in service now for many years. Figure 1shows common materials used for corrosion protection of scrubbers These are stainless steel, fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) and rubber lining over carbon steel. Recently we have seen stainless steel scrubbers being rubber lined due to waste stream changes. There are several ways how to use the benefits of rubber lining over other materials.
The chemical composition and the temperature range of the flue gas can show major variations during operation depending ultimately on the nature of the waste which is burned. Its typical conditions at the scrubber inlet are shown in figure 2. Past experience shows that, over a period of many years, the waste composition has changed dramatically because of change of consumer behavior, local and federal regulations and general changes in the waste stream.
Therefore the corrosion protection system for flue gas scrubbers for waste incinerator plants needs to cover a wide variety of operating conditions. Experience of more than 20 years of operation of hard rubber lined scrubbers shows the excellent performance of rubber in those areas. through out waste composition changes. The first hard-rubber lined scrubber was installed at a waste incineration plant in Kiel, Germany in 1974and is still in operation without problems. Subsequently hard rubber linings have been installed in over 75 scrubbers, all of which are still in operation.
