MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF KEY PARAMETERS OF ABSORPTION ON WETTED SPHERE CONTACTOR

Liquid spray curtains can be used to contain the effect of accidental release of toxic gases; they work by a combination of dilution and abs orption. In this work, we have investigated the possibility of adding chemicals to the liquid spray which may react with the toxic gases and enhance the absorption capacity of the spray. The work is aimed at a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and the mass transfer behav ior of toxic gas - reactive liquid systems. We have performed continuo us mass transfer rate experiments on one sphere absorber (the model sy stems considered being CO2/Na2CO3 and O-2/Na2SO3), and we have interpr eted these in terms of mass transfer with chemical reaction theory. Th e system was modelled as a series of a sphere gas-liquid reactor (SGLR ) and a continuous-stirred tank (CST). A numerical technique was used to predict both the unsteady state liquid reactant concentration and t he specific absorption rate of gas in the system. A systemic approach was employed to determine values of key parameters that quantify a giv en mechanism. The results obtained, together with pilot plant results on the hydrodynamics of liquid sprays, may form the basis for a predic tive model of chemical liquid spray behavior in environmental control.