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Engineering

Stability of a Flue Gas Desulfurization Scrubber Under Seismic Loading

Quick fact

During a seismic event, the liquid inside a flue gas desulfurization scrubber can slosh, creating dynamic forces that can exceed the static weight of the structure, potentially causing the support columns to buckle or the entire vessel to overturn if not properly assessed.

Why this is interesting

A scrubber tower can be as tall as a 20-story building, yet a few feet of sloshing liquid inside could threaten its stability during an earthquake. What keeps these giant tanks from toppling?