Patent ID: 7850936

Claim:
A system for removing sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) from SO 2 laden flue gas resulting from the burning of fossil fuel, comprising: an absorber configured to capture SO 2 from a flow of the SO 2 laden flue gas with a sorbent; a first separator configured to separate the sorbent with captured SO 2 into a first portion of sorbent and a second portion of sorbent and to also separate the first portion of sorbent from the flue gas; and a second separator configured to separate the second portion of sorbent from the flue gas, wherein the first separator includes a first outlet for directing the flue gas and the second portion of sorbent from the first separator, and a second outlet for directing the first portion of sorbent from the first separator, and further comprising: a hydrator configured to rehydrate the first portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and including a third outlet for directing the rehydrated sorbent to the absorber.