ALSTOM - AQCS

AQCS
Product Catalogue: Air quality control
systems
Ensure you meet the most stringent environmental regulations in the most cost effective manner with
a tailored solution from Alstom. We are the number 1 supplier of air quality control systems (AQCS) in
the world.
Why choose Alstom air quality control systems?

Over 80 years dedication to AQCS business with renowned reputation

Broadest portfolio of air quality control system technologies

Largest installed base with more than 500 GW in power generation and 2,800 systems for
industry globally

Technology leadership driven by dedicated R&D and feedback from installed base

Global presence with highly competent local project execution units

Selective catalytic reduction of NOx (SCR)

Choose a solution from the world leading provider of SCR systems

Flue gas desulphurisation

Easily remove SO2 from your coal-fired steam generators.

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Particulate control
Particulate control solutions to cater to the most stringent of norms on a wide variety of applications in
power and industry

Mercury control
Reduce mercury emissions by up to 90% with Alstoms technology.

Air quality control projects

Our Power the Future (PTF) projects invested in advanced power generation, renewable
energy resources and improvements at existing power plants. The investments have allowed
us to further reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions,
which began their steady reduction in the 1980s. Our implementation of new technologies at
our generation facilities help us meet new state and federal air quality requirements while
maintaining cost-effective reliability for our system.

Pleasant Prairie Power Plant

As part of our commitment to upgrade environmental performance, a new state-of-the-art Air
Quality Control System (AQCS) was added to the Pleasant Prairie Power Plant. A selective
catalytic reduction system was put in place to reduce NOx emissions, and a flue gas
desulfurization system was constructed to reduce SO2.
Read more about the Pleasant Prairie project

(PDF 437k)

Oak Creek Power Plant

A new AQCS was completed at Oak Creek Power Plant in 2012, which cut SO2 emissions by
80 to 90 percent and NOx emissions by 60 to 70 percent.
Read more about the Oak Creek project

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How we produce electricity

while reducing emissions
The process of generating electricity occurs in several steps. First, coal is burned in a large
boiler to make high-pressure, high-temperature steam. A turbine converts the thermal
energy in the steam to mechanical energy. The spinning turbine then drives the generator to
produce electricity.
Specialized equipment is used at different points throughout the generation process to
remove emissions from the units. The first step in reducing emissions occurs by utilizing a low
NOx burner to burn the coal. This equipment regulates the rate of combustion of the coal by
controlling the amount of air available at different elevations within the boiler to complete the
combustion. This results in lower NOx emissions.
After exiting the boiler, the flue gas goes through an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). In the
ESP, a series of positively charged collection plates, remove negatively charged particulate
matter from the flue gas. The ESP captures more than 99 percent of the particulate matter in
the flue gas.
Next, the wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system, also known as the wet FGD or
scrubber, is used to control SO2 and hydrogen chloride, as well as other water-soluble
emissions. As the flue gas passes through the scrubber, it is mixed with limestone slurry. The
limestone reacts with the flue gas and absorbs the sulfur dioxide in the flue gas, forming
calcium sulfite. Air (oxygen) is blown into the absorber tank causing a chemical reaction
which converts the calcium sulfite into calcium sulfate or synthetic gypsum. The gypsum
slurry is then dewatered and can be used as a valuable product to make wallboard for
construction projects.
To reduce NOx emissions even further, a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) is
employed. Within this system, an ammonia solution is injected into the flue gas stream. The
NOx in the flue gas reacts with the injected ammonia, in the presence of a catalyst, producing
nitrogen and water vapor.

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