Intensifying the Absorption of CO<sub>2</sub> in Water Using a Static Mixer; Part II: Effect of Reactor Design
Gabi Antoine Altabash, Mahmoud Al‐Hindi, Fouad Azizi
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide An attempt to intensify the physical absorption of CO 2 in water was undertaken in this work by means of using a tubular reactor equipped with screen-type static mixers. Four different screen geometries in two distinct reactor designs were tested for impact on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k L a, while changing flow rates and gas holdups. Results showed that the limits of intensification were reached and the system became limited by the reaction kinetics and not mass transfer. From a hydrodynamic point of view, the finer meshes rendered the largest k L a values, while from an energy perspective, the coarsest woven mesh rendered the best energy utilization efficiency. Depending on the employed screen geometry, k L a values as high as 0.899 s –1 could be reached using 0.0139 kWh/tonne of processed liquid, while changing the screen geometry can result in k L a = 0.774 s –1 at 0.0062 kWh/tonne.