A system and method suitable for the removal of pollutants from gases with a circulating dry scrubber system having a circulating dry scrubber reactor containing a fluidized bed adapted to contact the gas with a dry reagent within the fluidized bed. The system includes a housing fluidically coupled to the reactor, a filter array within the housing, and an internal hopper within the housing and adapted to return at least some of the particulates to the fluidized bed within the circulating dry scrubber reactor. The scrubbed gas stream exits the circulating dry scrubber reactor and flows upward between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the internal hopper before contacting the filter array. The exterior of the internal hopper is exposed to the scrubbed gas stream, and the scrubbed gas stream is not recirculated to the circulating dry scrubber reactor to maintain the fluidized bed therein.