NZ596673A - System and method for softening water for use in a sulfur dioxide scrubber - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT - 596673 The disclosure relates to a system that treats and/or softens raw water supplied to a non-calcium-based, aqueous wet SOx scrubber, wherein the system comprises: (a) at least one floc supply means; (b) at least one raw water supply means, wherein the raw water contains at least calcium ions and magnesium ions; (c) at least one sodium carbonate supply means; (d) at least one waste liquor supply means, wherein the waste liquor is supplied from a portion of the waste liquor generated by at least one non-calcium based, aqueous wet SOx scrubber and wherein the waste liquor contains solubilized sulfate ions; (e) at least one precipitator/crystallizer tank, wherein the at least one floc supply means, the at least one raw water supply means, the at least one sodium carbonate supply means and the at least one waste liquor supply means all supply their respective compounds to the at least one precipitator/crystallizer tank, and wherein the at least one precipitator/crystallizer tank permits and facilitates a reaction between the raw water, the sodium carbonate and the waste liquor supply and wherein the at least one precipitator/crystallizer tank has at least one outlet and removes any undesirable solids from the mixture of compounds supplied from the at least one floc supply means, the at least one raw water supply means, the at least one sodium carbonate supply means and the at least one waste liquor supply means so as to generate a treated solution of floc, sodium carbonate solution, raw water and waste liquor and supply same to the at least one outlet; and (f) at least one settler/thickener tank that is in fluid communication with the at least one outlet of the at least one precipitator/crystallizer tank, the at least one settler/thickener tank having at least one outlet that supplies treated water to a non-calcium-based, aqueous wet SOx scrubber.