Z. Dehouche et J. Lieto, MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF KEY PARAMETERS OF ABSORPTION ON WETTED SPHERE CONTACTOR, Chemical Engineering Science, 50(18), 1995, pp. 2899-2909
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.