WET INLINE SCRUBBER WITH A SIDE INLET FOR REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF SOX IN AN EXHAUST GAS PRODUCED BY ONE OR MORE ENGINES OF A MARINE VESSEL

Abstract

A wet inline scrubber with a side inlet using alkali scrubber fluid for reducing the amount of SOx in the exhaust gas of engines of a marine vessel, including a vertically extending exhaust gas reaction tube, lower and upper scrubbing chamber including alkali scrubber fluid injectors to scrub the exhaust gas, and a used scrubber fluid drain. The lower chamber has an exhaust gas outlet with a central opening arranged to let the exhaust gas pass through and a body extending from the central opening up to an outer wall thereof which is in contact with the inner wall of the exhaust gas reaction tube. Between the body and the inner wall, slit-shaped openings allow scrubber fluid to flow from the upper scrubbing chamber to the lower scrubbing chamber and used scrubber fluid to flow over the inlet side for the exhaust gas in the lower scrubbing chamber.

Claims

1. A wet inline scrubber using alkali scrubber fluid for reducing an amount of SOx in an exhaust gas produced by one or more engines of a marine vessel, comprising a vertically extending exhaust gas reaction tube, which comprises a lower scrubbing chamber comprising a side inlet for the exhaust gas produced by the one or more engines of the marine vessel, a plurality of scrubber fluid injectors to inject alkali scrubber fluid in exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber to partially scrub this exhaust gas, resulting in a first used scrubber liquid, a drain for used scrubber fluid at a bottom thereof, an upper scrubbing chamber comprising an exhaust gas outlet at a top thereof, a plurality of scrubber fluid injectors to inject alkali scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas to further scrub exhaust gas which has already partially been scrubbed in the lower scrubbing chamber, resulting in a second used scrubber fluid, wherein the lower scrubbing chamber and the upper scrubbing chamber are fluidically connected through a lower chamber exhaust gas outlet guiding the partially scrubbed exhaust gas flowing from the lower scrubbing chamber to the upper scrubbing chamber, said lower chamber exhaust gas outlet comprising a reverse funnel extending from walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube upwards and towards a central opening, characterized in that along a circumferential border where the reverse funnel is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube, one or more slit-shaped openings are provided that allow the second used scrubber fluid to flow from the upper scrubbing chamber to the lower scrubbing chamber and that allow the second used scrubber fluid to flow over the side inlet for the exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber.

2. The scrubber according to claim 1, wherein the one or more slit-shaped openings cover between 40% and 60% of the circumferential border where the reverse funnel is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube.

3. The scrubber according to claim 2, wherein the one or more slit-shaped openings cover 50% of the circumferential border where the reverse funnel is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube.

4. The scrubber according to claim 1, wherein the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet comprises two slit-shaped openings.

5. The scrubber according to claim 4, wherein the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet comprises a first slit-shaped opening arranged at the side of the exhaust gas reaction tube where the exhaust gas side inlet is arranged and a second slit-shaped opening is arranged at an opposite side thereof.

6. The scrubber according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber comprises a side tube which is connected to the lower scrubber chamber via the side inlet, wherein this side tube is arranged with one or more alkali scrubber fluid injectors to inject scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas coming from the one or more engines of the marine vessel.

7. The scrubber according to claim 1, wherein the upper scrubbing chamber comprises a deflection body which is arranged above the central opening of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet.

8. The scrubber according to claim 7, wherein the one or more scrubber fluid injectors of the upper scrubbing chamber are arranged above the deflection body.

9. The scrubber according to claim 1, wherein the lower scrubbing chamber comprises only one drain for the used scrubber fluid arranged at the bottom thereof.

10. A scrubber according to claim 1, wherein a height of the scrubber is between 8 m and 18 m, depending upon a size of the one or more engines of the marine vessel.

11. A method for scrubbing of exhaust gas produced by one or more engines of a marine vessel, wherein the exhaust gas is introduced into a wet inline scrubber where the exhaust gas is scrubbed in contact with alkali scrubber fluid for reduction of SOx in the exhaust gas, the method comprising steps of: introducing the exhaust gas from the one or more engines of the marine vessel via a side inlet in a lower scrubbing chamber of a vertically extending exhaust gas reaction tube; injecting alkali scrubber fluid in exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber, thereby partially scrubbing the exhaust gas, and obtaining a first used scrubber liquid; withdrawing the partially scrubbed exhaust gas from the lower scrubbing chamber and letting it flow into an upper scrubbing chamber by passing it through a reverse funnel extending from walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube upwards and towards a central opening; injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the partially scrubbed exhaust gas present in the upper scrubbing chamber, thereby further scrubbing the partially scrubbed exhaust gas, and obtaining a second used scrubber liquid; withdrawing the scrubbed exhaust gas from the upper scrubbing chamber via an exhaust gas outlet arranged at a top of the upper scrubbing chamber; flowing of the second used scrubber fluid from the upper scrubbing chamber through one or more slit-shaped openings arranged along a circumferential border where the reverse funnel is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube; flowing of the second used scrubber fluid over the exhaust gas side inlet present in the lower scrubbing chamber; withdrawing the used scrubber fluid from the lower scrubbing chamber via a drain for used scrubber fluid at a bottom of the lower scrubbing chamber.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas from the one or more engines of the marine vessel which is flowing in a side tube which is connected to the lower scrubbing chamber via the side inlet.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises the step of injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the upper scrubbing chamber above a deflection body.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises the step of withdrawing the used scrubber fluid via only one drain for used scrubber liquid at the bottom of the lower scrubbing chamber.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a wet inline scrubber is used which comprises: the lower scrubbing chamber comprising the side inlet for the exhaust gas produced by the one or more engines of the marine vessel, a plurality of scrubber fluid injectors to inject the alkali scrubber fluid in exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber to partially scrub this exhaust gas, resulting in the first used scrubber liquid, the drain for the used scrubber fluid at the bottom thereof, the upper scrubbing chamber comprising the exhaust gas outlet at the top thereof, a plurality of scrubber fluid injectors to inject the alkali scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas to further scrub exhaust gas which has already partially been scrubbed in the lower scrubbing chamber, resulting in the second used scrubber fluid, wherein the lower scrubbing chamber and the upper scrubbing chamber are fluidically connected through a lower chamber exhaust gas outlet guiding the partially scrubbed exhaust gas flowing from the lower scrubbing chamber to the upper scrubbing chamber, said lower chamber exhaust gas outlet comprising the reverse funnel extending from walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube upwards and towards the central opening, wherein along the circumferential border where the reverse funnel of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube, the one or more slit-shaped openings are provided that allow the second scrubber fluid to flow from the upper scrubbing chamber to the lower scrubbing chamber and that allow the second used scrubber fluid to flow over the inlet side for the exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the one or more slit-shaped openings cover between 40% and 80% of the circumferential border where the reverse funnel is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a length section through a scrubber according to the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the scrubber according to line AA as shown in FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet of a scrubber according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a wet inline scrubber (1) with a side inlet (2) for exhaust gas produced by one or more engines of a marine vessel (not shown in FIG. 1) comprises a vertically extending exhaust gas reaction tube (4) which is provided with an inner wall (5). In FIG. 1, lines II show an example of how the exhaust gas moves through the inside of the scrubber (1). The exhaust gas reaction tube (4) is more in particular a tubular element having a substantial circular cross section. However, other shapes of cross sections are also possible. The height of the scrubber (1) is more in particular between 8 m and 18 m, depending upon the size of the one or more engines of the marine vessel.

[0061] The reaction tube (4) is subdivided in a lower scrubbing chamber (6) and an upper scrubbing chamber (7). The lower and an upper scrubbing chamber (6, 7) are substantially symmetric about a common length axis being substantially vertically arranged.

[0062] The lower scrubbing chamber (6) is more in particular connected with a side tube (9) via the side inlet (2). As can be seen in FIG. 1, the exhaust gas produced by the one or more engines of the marine vessel is entering via this side tube (9) through the side inlet (2) into the lower scrubbing chamber (6).

[0063] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the side tube (9) is arranged with one or more alkali scrubber fluid injectors (10) which are arranged to inject scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas coming from the one or more engines of the marine vessel. This results in used scrubber fluid, in particular a third used scrubber fluid. Also the lower scrubbing chamber (6) is provided with a plurality of injectors (10) for injecting alkali scrubber fluid into the exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber (6). This also results in used scrubber liquid, in particular in a first used scrubber fluid. Likewise, the upper scrubbing chamber (7) is provided with a plurality of injectors (10) for injecting alkali scrubber fluid into the exhaust gas present in the upper scrubbing chamber (7). This likewise results in used scrubber fluid, in particular in a second used scrubber fluid. The alkali scrubber fluid can be seawater, whether or not supplemented with alkali, as well as fresh water which is supplemented with alkali. The scrubber fluid is delivered to the injectors (10) via the outside of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4), as indicated with lines I in FIG. 1. The injectors (10) are more in particular in the form of sprayers which disperse the scrubber fluid into the exhaust gas which is flowing from the bottom to the top of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4) in fine droplets. The exhaust gas (3) entering the lower scrubbing chamber (6) is partially scrubbed in the lower scrubbing chamber (6). 65-75% of the scrubbing is performed in the lower scrubbing chamber. The further scrubbing is performed in the upper scrubbing chamber (7).

[0064] The lower scrubbing chamber (6) is at the bottom thereof arranged with a used scrubber fluid drain (3). More in particular, a single drain (3) for used scrubber fluid is provided, meaning that there is only one such drain (3) present. In particular, the drain for used scrubber fluid removes the first, second and third used scrubber fluid, with the first used scrubber fluid generated in the lower scrubbing chamber, the second used scrubber fluid generated in the upper scrubbing chamber and flowing down from the upper scrubbing chamber into the lower scrubbing chamber as further discussed below, and the third used scrubber liquid generated in the side tube (9) and flowing into the lower scrubbing chamber via side tube (9) and side inlet (2). The upper scrubbing chamber (7) is arranged with an exhaust gas outlet (12) at the top thereof. This scrubbed gas leaves the upper scrubbing chamber (7) through the exhaust gas outlet (12) from which it is released into the atmosphere directly or via a not shown cleaned exhaust gas outlet pipe. The exhaust gas outlet (12) more in particular is formed as a substantially axial narrowing of the upper scrubbing chamber (7).

[0065] The lower scrubbing chamber (6) is at the top thereof provided with a lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) which confines the lower scrubbing chamber (6). This lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) has a central opening (8a) through which partially scrubbed exhaust gas flows which is coming from the lower scrubbing chamber (6) during operation of the scrubber (1) and which flows up to the upper scrubbing chamber (7). The lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) is a coaxial constriction formed substantially as an axial narrowing of the lower scrubbing chamber (6). The lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) thus comprises a body (8b) which extends from the central opening (8a) up to the wall of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4). The axial narrowing more in particular is designed or shaped substantially as a bottleneck designed to reduce the pressure drop over the narrowing by avoiding sharp edges that may disturb the exhaust gas flow and increase flow resistance therein.

[0066] Accordingly, the lower scrubbing chamber (6) and the upper scrubbing chamber (7) are fluidically connected through a lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) guiding the partially scrubbed exhaust gas flowing from the lower scrubbing chamber (6) to the upper scrubbing chamber (7). The lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8), in particular the exhaust gas outlet body (8b), typically comprises a reverse funnel extending from walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4) upwards and towards the central opening (8a). A funnel typically refers to a tubular structure, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, that is used for guiding liquid into a smaller opening. By referring to a reverse funnel, it is meant that the funnel structure is wide at the bottom and narrower at the top, thereby guiding exhaust gas flowing from the wider exit of the lower scrubbing chamber (6) to the more narrow entrance of the upper scrubbing chamber (7).

[0067] As can be seen in FIG. 2, between this body (8b) and the inner of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4), one or more slit-shaped openings (20) are provided. These slit-shaped openings (20) consequently interrupt the contact between the wall of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) and the wall of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4). These slit-shaped openings (20) allow scrubber fluid still having alkalinity in it from the upper scrubbing chamber (7) to flow down along the wall of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4) into the lower scrubbing chamber (6) (see lines III as indicated in FIG. 1). In this way, the scrubber fluid forms a kind of water film along the wall of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4). This water film also crosses the side inlet (2) of the lower scrubbing chamber (6), as at least one slit-shaped opening is arranged at the side of the reaction tube where the exhaust gas side inlet is arranged, having as a consequence that the exhaust gas produced by the one or more engines of the marine vessel need to pass through the water film flowing over this side inlet (2). The one or more slit-shaped openings (20) cover between 40% and 60%, and more in particular around 50%, of the wall of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8).

[0068] In fact, the slit-shaped openings (20) are located along the circumferential border where the reverse funnel is attached to the exhaust gas reaction tube. The one or more slit-shaped openings are there to allow scrubber fluid to flow from the upper scrubbing chamber (7) to the lower scrubbing chamber (6) and are adapted to allow the used scrubber fluid to flow over the side inlet (2).

[0069] In the embodiment of a scrubber according to the present disclosure as shown in FIG. 2, two slit-shaped openings (20) are provided which are arranged opposite each other, i.e. one arranged at the height of the side inlet (2) arranged in the lower scrubbing chamber (6) and one arranged at the opposite side thereof.

[0070] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a deflection body (11) is arranged close to the circular opening of the division plate to redirect the incoming exhaust gas towards the outer walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube. The distance between the deflection body (11) and the circular opening (8a) of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) has to be sufficient to avoid a constriction of the exhaust gas flow that enters the upper scrubbing chamber (7).

[0071] This deflection body (11) comprises in its simplest form two right circular cones pointing in opposite direction and having a common circular base. These two right circular cones have a length axis which virtually connects the vertexes of the respective right circular cones and which coincides with the length axis of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4). The angle a typically is between 80° and 100° and needs to be an optimal compromise between reducing the pressure drop caused by the respective cone and the efficient and uniform spreading of the flow of the exhaust gas in the upper scrubbing chamber (7).

[0072] As is shown in FIG. 1, the deflection body (11) is fastened to the inner wall (4) of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4) by means of connectors (13) that are arranged to cause a minimal disturbance of the exhaust gas flow in the upper scrubbing chamber (7).

[0073] In a method according to the present disclosure, exhaust gas produced by one or more engines of a marine vessel is scrubbed in a wet inline scrubber (1) as described above. The method comprising the steps of: [0074] introducing the exhaust gas from the one or more engines of the marine vessel via the side inlet (2) in the lower scrubbing chamber (6); [0075] injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas present in the lower scrubbing chamber (6) thereby partially scrubbing the exhaust gas; [0076] withdrawing the partially scrubbed exhaust gas from the lower scrubbing chamber (6) and letting it flow into the upper scrubbing chamber (7) by passing it through a reverse funnel extending from walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4) upwards and towards a central opening (8a) [0077] injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the partially scrubbed exhaust gas present in the upper scrubbing chamber (7) thereby further scrubbing the partially scrubbed exhaust gas; [0078] withdrawing the scrubbed exhaust gas from the upper scrubbing chamber (7) via the exhaust gas outlet (12) arranged at the top of the upper scrubbing chamber (7); [0079] flowing of used scrubber fluid from the upper scrubbing chamber (7) through one or more slit-shaped openings (20); [0080] flowing of used scrubber fluid over the exhaust gas side inlet (2) present in the lower scrubbing chamber (6); [0081] withdrawing the used scrubber fluid from the lower scrubbing chamber (6) via the used scrubber fluid drain (3) at the bottom of the lower scrubbing chamber (6).

[0082] The method may further comprise the step of injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the exhaust gas produced by the one or more engines of the marine vessel which is flowing in the side tube (9).

[0083] The method further comprises the step of injecting alkali scrubber fluid in the upper scrubbing chamber (7) above the deflection body (11).

[0084] The method may also comprise the step of withdrawing the used scrubber fluid via the single used scrubber fluid drain (3) at the bottom of the lower scrubbing chamber (6).

[0085] FIG. 3, which is a detail of the wet line scrubber as described herein, shows part of the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) guiding the partially scrubbed exhaust gas flowing from the lower scrubbing chamber (6) to the upper scrubbing chamber (7) along lines II (from IIa to IIb). The lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) comprises a reverse funnel (30) extending from walls of the exhaust gas reaction tube (4) upwards and towards a central opening (8a). Lines III show how used scrubber fluid from the upper scrubbing chamber (7) flows (from IIIa to IIIb) through the one or more slit-shaped openings (20) into the lower scrubbing chamber (6). The structure of the reverse funnel (30) in the lower chamber exhaust gas outlet (8) also creates a scrubber fluid reservoir (31) allowing controlled dosage of the scrubber fluid through the slit-shaped openings (20).