Dry vs. Wet Desulfurization: How Biomass Power Plants Make the Right Choice

A common dilemma for biomass power plant operators is: Should I use dry (SDS) or wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD)?

Many people think "wet is better," but that's not always the case—especially when dealing with sodium - based additives and wastewater discharge restrictions.

Here's our expert analysis:

Factor Dry SDS Wet Scrubber

Initial cost ✅ Lower ❌ Higher

Operating cost ✅ Moderate ⚠️ Higher (pump energy consumption, reagents)

Water consumption ✅ None ❌ High

Waste residue by - product Gypsum/calcium sulfate (dry powder) Liquid slurry (difficult to handle)

Space requirement ✅ Compact ❌ Large footprint

Maintenance ✅ Simple ⚠️ Complex (nozzles, pumps)

Crystallization risk Low ❗ High if drainage is insufficient

? Recommendation: For most biomass power plants with sulfur dioxide emissions below 400 mg/Nm³, dry SDS with a reaction tower is a wiser choice—especially in areas lacking wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Haina's dry SDS system uses hydrated lime (Ca(OH)₂) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), and can achieve a desulfurization efficiency of over 50% with a residence time of no less than 3 seconds.

? Sustainability Tip: Use locally sourced alkaline reagents to reduce transportation emissions.