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Mathematical Modeling of Packed Column for NO x Gas Removal using

Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Article · January 2015

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IJCTA, 8(3), 2015, pp. 915-921
© International Science Press

Mathematical Modeling of Packed Column

for NOx Gas Removal using Hydrogen
Peroxide Solution
C. Maheswari*, R. Vinoth, L. Kanimozhi and B. Meenakshipriya

Abstract: This work mainly focused on the design and modeling of packed column for NOx gas removal using
hydrogen peroxide absorbent. Mathematical modeling was carried out for the column with packing material Intalox
ceramic saddles with 6 mm diameter. The de-nitrification process was carried out to make the NO removal process
such that various parameters such as packed column sizing, packing material, absorbents used were determined for
the NOx removal process by wet scrubbing technique. This modeling determines of liquid flow rate, diameter, and
packing height, which offers enhanced the absorption NOx of gas, mathematical modelling is based on two film
theory of gas liquid absorption.
Keywords: NOx emission; absorption; two film theory; packed column.

1. INTRODUCTION
Nitric oxide is emitted from the automobile engines, fossil fuel power plants. These emitted gaseous reacts
with atmospheric air and causes severe effects in the environmental. The Nitric oxide gas converted in to
nitric acid, which was a main cause of the acid rain formation. Furthermore, both NO and NO2 contribute
in ozone layer depletion. There are various types of emission controlling approaches develop by the
industrialists and researchers such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR), selective non-catalytic reduction
(SNCR), and adsorption and wet scrubbing. Other than this, a new upgrading method for effluent reduction
process is wet scrubbing process, which is the most effective method to abate the gas particle through the
mass transfer technique. Wet scrubbers have some unique characteristics useful for fine particulate control.
Absorption with chemical reaction involves removing the impurities from gas phase and dissolving
them into the liquid phase by making a chemical reaction between them. The absorption process is
described by the mathematical model based on a two-film theory of gas-liquid absorption. The two film
theory proposed by Whitman (1923) is the simplest theory designed for mass transfer analysis. The most
commonly used device for absorption process is a packed column, since packed area in the column is
used to develop more interfacial area between gas and liquid which increases the absorption rate [11].
NOx is more challenging to take away from the wet scrubbers, because most of it is in the form of nitric
oxide (NO), which having a very low solubility. The wet scrubbing process is implemented through, the
newly designed packed column for NOx emission control process and the main absorbent used for the wet
scrubbing process is hydrogen peroxide which is used as absorbent. To rise the absorption rate of NOx,
oxidizing agents were get together effectively both in the gas phase (ozone, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen
peroxide,) [9] & [6] or in the liquid phase (potassium permanganate, sodium chlorite etc.). An oxidizing

Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai – 638052

*maheswarikec@gmail.com.
916 C. Maheswari, R. Vinoth, L. Kanimozhi and B. Meenakshipriya

process using hydrogen peroxide in the scrubbing solution appears to be very attractive, as it results in the
production of valuable nitric acid without generating any other polluting byproduct [10].

2. ABSORBENT SELECTION PARAMETERS

Based on the literature survey various type of absorbents were used in the packed column are tabulated
in table 1. It is clear that various absorbents are used for NOx emission control process such as NaClO2,
aqueous HNO3, H2O2, potassium permanganate, NH3 etc., Hence H2O2 is considered as an optimized
absorbent for NOx removal process which can be used in the modeling of packed column.
Table 1
Absorbent selection

Author Absorbents used Mole conc./ feed rate of Removal efficiency Height of packed
absorbent column
H.K LEE et al. [7] NaClO2 0-50ml/min 67% ID-0.015m,height-
1.0m
Collins et al [1]. H2O2 Molar ratio-1.0 >90% Height 1.5m
Kasper et al[6]. HNO3with added HNO3-0-2M, H2O2- 90% Height 2m
H2O2 0.02M

3. MODELING OF THE PACKED COLUMN FOR NO EMISSION CONTROL PROCESS

3.1 Packed Column

Packed bed columns are ultimately utilized in absorption, desorption, and direct heat transfer processes
in chemical, environmental protection such as processes in thermal power stations like water purification.

3.2 Design Of Packed Column

Figure 1: schematic diagram of packed column

Figure 1 shows the schematic representation of packed column, which consists of liquid sprayer, gas
and liquid inlet, gas distributor and a packed bed. The liquid solvent is allowed to enter the column at the
top through a liquid distributor and then it flows down through the surfaces of the packing materials. The
gas phase enters at the bottom of the column, which flows upward through the packing materials, through
 Mathematical Modeling of Packed Column for NOx Gas Removal using Hydrogen Peroxide Solution 917

which mass transfer takes place from the gas to liquid films. Better performance of the column is obtained
by properly designing the parameters of the column such as absorbent used, diameter, total height, packing
material, type of packing material used, packing height and Liquid/Gas (L/G) ratio. Packed column and its
parameters used by the various researchers are shown in the table 2
Table 2
Parameters of packed column

Parameters Thomas et al.[10] Vanderschuren et al.[5] Kenig et al.[8]

Diameter(m) 0.045 0.045 0.025
Height(m) 0.45 0.45 1
Flow rate of liquid(lph) 37.4 30.7 19.6
Flow rate of gas(m^3/s) 2.8*10^-4 2.8*10^-4 49*10^-5
Packing material 10mm glass rasching ring 10mm glass Rasching ring 12.5mm ceramic rasching ring

3.3 Mathematical Modeling of the Packed Column

3.3.1 Determination of Lm/Gm Ratio

The minimum liquid and gas requirement are determine based on solubility of gas (NO) in a liquid
(aqueous nitric acid) which determines the amount of pollutant absorbed from the gas phase to liquid
phase. The mostly used method for analyzing the solubility data is to use an equilibrium diagram. It is a
plot between mole fraction of solute in the liquid phase denoted as ‘X’ and the mole fraction of solute in
the gas phase denoted as ‘Y’ which is indicated in figure 2

Figure 2: Equilibrium diagram

To remove the required amount of NO the temperature is to be maintained at 20°C. Let us take
following assumption,
Inlet concentration y1 = 1% of NO by volume

=0.01 mole fraction of NO

Outlet concentration y 2 = 98% reduction of NO from inlet concentration

918 C. Maheswari, R. Vinoth, L. Kanimozhi and B. Meenakshipriya

=(2%)(y1 )

=(0.002)*(0.01)
=0.0002 mole fraction of NO

For a constant flow rate of gas, the increase in liquid flow rate causes the liquid to fill completely in
the packing and stops the liquid flow into the packed area. Based on the literature review the following
parameters usedHenry’s Law packed
to modeling Constants forHendry’s
column. Inorganic andm Organic
constant Species
=0.0014 which of Potential
is taken from the
Importance in Environmental Chemistry and from the figure 3, flooding
Compilation of Henry’s Law Constants for Inorganic and Organic Species of Potential Importance factor
in
K
Environmental Chemistry and from the figure 3, flooding factor K4 = 0.7 then K4 -Flooding factor (0.6 to-
4 = 0.7 then K 4 -Flooding factor (0.6 to 0.8); Gm -Gas mass flow rate (kg/sec); L m
Liquid
0.8); Gm -Gas mass mass
flow rateflow rate L
(kg/sec); (kg/sec) and m - Henry’s constant.
m -Liquid mass flow rate (kg/sec) and m - Henry’s constant.
�
Let 𝐺� = 1 𝑚 �ℎ𝑟

𝐾𝑔�
𝐺� = 3.383 ∗ 10�� 𝑠𝑒𝑐
�� �
= (1)
�� �������� ������

Substituting the flooding factor and henry’s constant in the equation (1)
𝐾𝑔�
𝐿� = 0.002285 𝑠𝑒𝑐

Converting into the mass function

𝐿� = 4.44 𝑙�ℎ𝑟

Hence, theHence,
liquidthe liquid
flow rateflow
to rate
the to the packed
packed column
column (Lm)(Lism)chosen
is chosen
as as
5 5lph
lphapproximately
approximately for
for
experimental
experimental analysis. analysis.

3.3.2. DETERMINATION OF PACKED COLUMN DIAMETER

3.3.2. Determination of Packed Column Diameter
Packed
Packed column diameter column
should diameter and
be optimized should
it isbe optimized
calculated for and
70%itofisthe
calculated
flooding for 70% of
velocity to
the flooding
achieve the economic velocity
pressure to decent
drop and achieve theand
liquid economic pressure
gas distribution drop
[11]. Theand decent
flooding liquid
velocity is
and gas correlation
calculated by Sherwood distribution
which[11]. The in
is shown flooding
Figure 3.velocity is calculated by Sherwood
correlation which is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Flooding factor and pressure drop correlation

Figure 3: Flooding factor and pressure drop correlation

 Mathematical Modeling of Packed Column for NOx Gas Removal using Hydrogen Peroxide Solution 919
From the From the
Figure
From the3,Figure 3,3,the
the flooding
Figure theflooding
factor (Kfactor
flooding (K(K4)4)isisidentified
) is identified
4factor for the for
identified forthe
thecorresponding
correspondingcorresponding
From the pressure
pressure Figure
drop (F3, the
drop
) in flooding
(F
the ) in
packed factor
the
pressure drop (FLV) in the packed
LV LV (K
packed
column4 ) is
and identified
column
it is and
used for
itto the
is corresponding
used to
calculate calculate
the columnpressure
the
column and it is used to calculate the column column drop
diameter. (FLV) in
diameter.
diameter.
the packed The
column
The pressure pressure
and
Thedrop it is drop
used
(FLV) drop
pressure (F
to ) is
is represented
(F represented
calculate the
as column
LVLV) is represented as as diameter. The pressure drop (F LV ) is represented as
∗ �.��∗ ∗ � �.��.�
� ��
𝐹�� ) = (��𝐹
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑎𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑎
(𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑎 ���
∗(��
𝐹 ) �)== �∗��� ����� �
��� ∗ ���
(2) (2)
(2)
� �� � �

� �� � �
𝐹�� = ��𝐹�𝐹��= ��������
(3) (3)
(3)
�� =��
��
� � ��� � �
3 3 3 3
where, ρGwhere,
–gas
where, ρGρ–gas
(NO) (NO)
density
G –gas (NO) density
(1.21 kg/m
density (1.21
), ρkg/m
(1.21 -liquid
L kg/m ),3),ρ(aqueous
Lρ-liquid
L -liquidH
(aqueous HH2SO
2SO4) density
(aqueous 2SO
)4density
4(1857 kg/m
) density (1857 ), kg/m
(1857 kg/m),3),
where, 3 3
GmρG-molar
–gasGG (NO)
mm -molar
flow density
-molarrateflow of(1.21
flow rate
gas kg/m
rate ofofgas),gas
(0.0003383 ρL(0.0003383
-liquid
kg/sec)
(0.0003383 (aqueous kg/sec)
and LHm2SO
kg/sec) and 4) L
-molar
and density
m flow
L (1857
-molarrateflow
m -molar
kg/m
of
flow rate
liquid), G
rate ofm -molar
ofliquid
liquid
flow rate of gas(0.002285
(0.002285 (0.0003383
kg/sec). By kg/sec)
kg/sec). By
substituting
(0.002285 kg/sec). By substituting and L mthe-molar
substituting molar flow
the flowrate
molar of
rate liquid
flow
of (0.002285
rate
liquid of
and kg/sec).
liquid
gas and
the molar flow rate of liquid and gas and also their By
gas
also substituting
and
their also the
their
molarcorresponding
flow ratecorresponding
of liquid and gas
densities indensities
corresponding and
densities also
in
equationin(6) their
equation corresponding
then, we
equation (6) then,
(6)get then, wedensities
F��we get
= get F
0.1724 in=
F�� =
�� equation
0.1724
. Thus
0.1724 (6)
. then,
Thus the
the . calculated we get .
calculated
Thus the calculated Thus
pressure pressure
the calculated pressure
drop (F
pressure drop
) is
LV drop (F (F
0.1724. )) is 0.1724.
Another Another
factor to factor
be to
considered be considered
considered
LVLV) is 0.1724. Another factor to be considered while determining
LV while while
while
determining determining
the liquidthe
determining theliquid
the liquid
liquid
flowinto
flow rate flow
ratetheinto
flow rate
the
column into
ratecolumn the
is flooding.
into column
theis column
flooding.is
It is the flooding.
is Itflooding.
is the
gas It
gas
velocity is the
It isvelocity
atthe gas velocity
gasatthe
which which at
liquid
velocity thewhich the
liquid the
atdroplets
which liquid
droplets
become droplets
liquidentrained
droplets
in thebecome
escaping become
entrained
gas stream
become entrained
inentrained
the itinisinthe
andescaping theescaping
gas
expressed stream
escaping asgasand
gas stream and
andit itisisexpressed
it is expressed
stream expressedasas
as
mL mLm mL mL (4) (4)(4)
K 4 K 4 =mKK 4 4 
mm

Gm Gm GG (4)
mm
*
Fromthe
From From
theflooding
flooding
From the
the flooding
factor, thethe
flooding
factor, factor,
gas gas
factor,
mass the
massthe gas
flow flow
gas mass
rate rate
mass flow
/ column /flow rate
columnrate/ cross
cross /column cross
sectional
column
sectional area
Vsectional
crosssectional
(area
w ) is
*
( Vdetermined
area
w ) area
*
is ( V( wVw)*and
)isis
determined
it is expressed determined and
andit itisisexpressed
and it is expressed
determined
as expressedasas
as
�.� �.�
�.�
� � (� �� )
� � (�� ����)����� (�
𝑉� = � �𝑉�𝑉�� =
� �� � �)
�=�� ��.� � ���� �.��.�
�� (5) (5)
(5)
��.��� � ���.��� � ��
�� ��.������� �
�

𝐾𝑔
𝑉�𝑉𝐾𝑔
𝑉� = 2.15 =�2.15
� =𝑚2.15
�𝑠
𝐾𝑔
�� �
𝑚𝑚𝑠� 𝑠
Basedon onBased
the ononthe
above
Based theabove
aboveparameters,
parameters, the
thecalculated
the calculated
calculated
parameters, massgas
gas mass
calculated gasmass
flow rateflow
mass rate
/column
column
flow /cross
column
ratecross cross
sectional
/ column crossarea Vw*
sectional
sectional
Based the above* *
parameters, the gas flow rate / sectional ( )
area ( V2
*
area
) is ( V
2.15V ) is
kg/m 2
2.15s. kg/m
is 2.15 kg/mws. area ( w w ) is 2.15 kg/m s.
2 2
s.

Thearea
The The
areaof
ofThe
thearea
the ofofthe
packed
packed
area packed
column
column
the column
(a)
(a)
packed (a)
(a)isiscalculated
isiscalculated
calculated
column as
as
calculatedasas
�� �
𝐴= 𝐴𝐴== ��� (6) (6)
(6)
�� ���
�
�� � �
𝐴𝐴=
𝐴 = 1.573 ∗=1.573
10 �� ∗
𝑚� ∗10
1.573 10��𝑚𝑚
D=
D= 0.0447
D=≈0.0447 ≈≈0.045m
0.045m
0.0447 0.045m

Hence theHence
areathe
Hence thearea
of the ofofthe
packed
area thepacked
packedcolumn
column iscolumn isisdetermined
determined asasA=0.001573m
as A=0.001573m
determined 2 and the
A=0.001573m
2 2and the
and the
Hence the area of the packed column is determined as A=0.001573m 2 and the diameter of the packed
diameterdiameter ofofthe
of the packed
diameter packed
packedcolumn
thecolumn iscolumn isisD=
D= 0.045m D=0.045m
0.045m
column is D= 0.045m
3.3.3.
3.3.3. DETERMINATION
3.3.3. DETERMINATIONDETERMINATION OF PACKINGOF
OF PACKING HEIGHT
PACKING HEIGHT
OF THE
HEIGHT OF THE
THE PACKED
OFPACKED PACKED
3.3.3. COLUMN
Determination
COLUMN
COLUMN of Packing Height of the Packed Column
The packing height directly refers to the depth of packing material required to do the maximum required
The
The packing packing
height height
directly directly
refers torefers
the tototheofdepth ofofpacking material
materialrequired
removal efficiency. The packing
Computation height
of packeddirectly
height (Z) ofdepth
refers the packing
depth
the column material
as, required
packing
is expressed required
to
to do the to do the
maximum maximum required
required removal
do the maximum removal
required efficiency. efficiency. Computation
Computation
removal efficiency. of packed
packedheight
of packedofheight
Computation height
Z = H N OG (7)
(Z)
(Z) of the of the
column column
is is
expressedexpressed
as, as,
(Z) of the column is expressed as,OG
Where NOG represents the number of transfer units and HOG represents height of transfer units. The number
6 66
of transfer unit for gas phase is calculated graphically by figure 4 and it is represented as,
y (8)
N OG = ln 1
y 2
920 C. Maheswari, R. Vinoth, L. Kanimozhi and B. Meenakshipriya

NOG = 1.6
Determination of absorption factor (m Gm/Lm)

Figure 4: Colburn diagram [11].

Height of the transfer unit is taken between 0.3 to 1.2 m

Z = HOG NOG = 1.6 (9)
Z = 0.48m
From these calculated parameters the packed column design has been determined and tabulated in
table 3 and its photographic view is shown in figure 5,

Figure 5: Photographic view of the packed column

 Mathematical Modeling of Packed Column for NOx Gas Removal using Hydrogen Peroxide Solution 921

Table 3
Calculated parameter of packed column

S. no Parameter Calculated value

1 Liquid flow rate to the packed column 5-10lph
3
2 Gas flow rate to the packed column 1 m /hr
3 Packed column height 0.70m
4 Packed column diameter 0.045m
5 Packed area 0.48m
6 Packing materials Intalox ceramic saddles with 6 mm diameter
7 Absorbents NaClO2, H2O2, HNO3, HNO3with added H2O2
8 Inlet concentration of NO 100 – 1000 ppm

4. CONCLUSION
The mathematical modeling is carried out to improve the NOx removal efficiency using the mixed gas
analysis. The packed column sizing, packing material, absorbents used were determined for the NO
removal process using wet scrubbing process. The mathematical modeling shows that the great removal
efficiency was obtained for NOx removal is by using the hydrogen peroxide as absorbent, which gives more
than more efficient removal when externally added to the aqueous HNO3.

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