(382aj) CFD Study for Optimal Operating Condition in Multi-Stage Packing Scrubber

This study focuses on the prediction of SOx dissolution in a scrubber for maritime environment by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Since the maritime scrubber has spatial constraints, it is important to make it compact. To reduce the size of the scrubber, gas-liquid contact efficiency should be improved. The swirling acts to disperse the gas and the liquid flow can control the two-phase flow, so the swirling strength of input gas and the flow rate of sprayed absorption liquid are considered as main variables of scrubber operation condition. Therefore, the optimization of operating conditions between strength of swirling gas and absorption liquid flow rate is required. A three-dimensional CFD model was used to perform a case study pm the swirling strength and the liquid flow rate of each level. The Euler-multiphase (EMP) model was used to describe the gas-liquid two-phase interaction. The effects of the swirling strength of gas phase and liquid flow rate on the fluid dynamics inside multi-stage packing scrubber (MSPS) were analyzed by standard deviation of gas phase velocity profile at specific position and temperature profile. Additionally, the result was compared with the experimental data for the validation of this study.
Simulation result showed that changes in the gas swirling strength and the liquid flow rate affect the standard deviation of gas flow. The standard deviation of gas velocity profile by height and temperature profile in outlet area identified in the case study were used for determination of the gas-liquid contact efficiency. As a result, this method of research is expected to be a good guideline for operating condition of MSPS by suggesting optimal operating conditions of MSPS.