Method of scrubbing combustion gases in order to reduce so2 concentration and gas scrubbing apparatus as well as method of and apparatus for reducing sox concentration in combustion gases by scrubbing

Sulfur oxides (SOx) are scrubbed from combustion effluents with aqueous limestone slurries with greater efficiency due to the use of an improved entrainment separator (130). In the preferred embodiment of a single-loop, counter-current limestone wet scrubber (100) (preferably with a spray-contacting zone of less than 6 meters in height) operating at bulk gas flow rates of greater than 4.5 meters per second, a vertical stream of flue gas is freed of a substantial portion of slurry droplets and diverted for effective mist removal by a well-drained, horizontal-flow mist eliminator (140). The entrainment separator (130) is a single-pass device with individual blades aligned for effective operation with reduced droplet impingement on the upper walls (e.g., roof) of the scrubber and to permit periodic washing. Use of a vertically-oriented, horizontal-shaft rotary heat exchanger (431) is facilitated and space and duct work requirements are greatly reduced.