Steinmüller Babcock builds seawater flue gas desulphurisation plants in Cyprus

Gummersbach, 29. Oktober 2018. HZI Steinmüller GmbH, based in Gummersbach/Germany has been awarded the contract for two seawater flue gas desulphurisation plants at the Vasilikos power plant in Cyprus, after succeeding in an international tender. Leader of the EPC consortium created for this purpose is TERNA SA, Athens, customer is the operator of the facility, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. The scope of supply and delivery for Steinmüller Babcock includes basic and detail engineering as well as key components.

The Vasilikos power plant is located 25 km east of Limassol, it was built between 1999 and 2012 and generates 865 MWel. The first three lines operate on heavy fuel oil, whereas the other two are combined cycle units in a 2+1 configuration, operating on distillate fuel oil. The plant supplies 40% of the electrical energy needed in Cyprus.  After installation of the flue gas desulphurisation plants on lines 1 and 2, the power plant meets the highest EU directives for air quality. Most of the components are installed during operation, only for the final work the lines are shut down for a few weeks.  The commissioning of the two flue gas cleaning plants is planned for early summer 2020.

Seawater flue gas desulphurisation plants use seawater as absorption medium instead of limestone, which is commonly used in wet washing processes. The sulphur dioxide contained in the flue gases is dissolved in the seawater and forms sulphite and hydrogen sulphite. These compounds are neutralised by carbonates and bicarbonates, which are natural constituents in seawater. In a ventilation basin ambient air is supplied, the oxygen contained oxidizes the sulphur compounds to sulphate, a natural component of seawater. The seawater used for the process is used twice in Vasilikos, first as cooling water, then for flue gas cleaning. The water, which has been returned to the sea, fulfils all defined discharge conditions. The process does not generate any residues. Despite the amazing simplicity, the process achieves sulphur dioxide deposits of over 95%. The flue gas desulphurisation plants will significantly reduce odour emissions and pollutants, and they will also contribute to the further dedusting of flue gases as a supplement to existing electrostatic precipitators.

Photo: The Vasilikos power plant generates 40% of the electrical energy needed in Cyprus. After installation of the two flue gas desulphurisation plants, the power plant will comply with the highest EU directives for air quality Photo: Electricity Authority of Cyprus. 

Copyright photo: Electricity Authority of Cyprus.