Desulfurization scrubbing in a squared spray column for a 720 kW marine diesel engine: Design, construction, simulation, and experiment

• Published in: Chemical engineering and processing Vol. 161; p. 108317
• Main Authors: Van Duc Long, Nguyen, Lee, Dong Young, Kim, Myung Jin, Kwag, Choongyong, Lee, Young Mok, Kang, Ki Joon, Lee, Sung Won, Lee, Moonyong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Closed-loop FGD; Marine FGD process; Spray tower; Square-shaped FGD; Spray tower; Closed-loop FGD; Square-shaped FGD; Marine FGD process
• ISSN: 0255-2701; 1873-3204
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2021.108317

[Display omitted] •A compact, light, and effective square scrubber equipped with spray was proposed.•Experimental results were in good agreement with the simulation results.•An SO2 removal efficiency higher than 95 % was achieved.•Most part of mass and heat transfers occurred in the bottom section of the scrubber.•The unit exhibited comparatively low pressure drop. Square-shaped absorption towers are compact and provide high volumetric efficiency, enabling the installation of closed-loop flue gas desulfurization (FGD) in limited spaces of a ship. For FGD processes, diluted sodium hydroxide (NaOH) has been considered as a viable absorbent. Thus, a square-shaped scrubber with square spray nozzle distributor using a diluted NaOH solution was proposed for marine sulfur oxides removal, aiming to reduce volume/space, weight, pressure drop, investment, and operating and maintenance costs while increasing efficiency. A systematic methodology for the square-shaped FGD design was proposed, experiments to treat the flue gas released from a marine diesel engine (720 kW) were performed, and simulation and sensitivity analyses were conducted using Aspen Plus V10. Good agreement was observed between experimental and simulated results. A liquid-to-gas mass ratio of approximately 4.32 kg.kg−1 provided SO2 removal efficiency higher than 95 %. Most part of mass and heat transfers occurred in the bottom section of the scrubber and a low pressure drop was achieved.