Numerical simulation of non-isothermal gas-liquid absorption with chemicalreaction on a spherical laminar film - Application to phosgene absorption into aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions

A numerical simulation of a non-isothermal gas-liquid absorption with chemi cal reaction on a spherical laminar film is presented. The mass and heat ba lances equations were solved with the orthogonal collocation method on fini te elements. The simulation is in good accordance with published data on ph osgene absorption in sodium hydroxide solution or water. If the contact tim e between gas and liquid is large, the sodium hydroxide in the film can be depleted and phosgene hydrolysis can occur. If the contact time is small, o nly the reaction between hydroxy anion and phosgene takes place. Furthermor e, simulation results concerning the global behavior of non-isothermal gas- liquid absorption accompanied with a chemical reaction are given. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.