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Lecture7 PDF
Lecture7 PDF
INTRODUCTION
Combustion processes generate various primary and secondary air pollutants such as
carbon oxides (mainly CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), ozone, along with
organic acid, inorganic acid, petrochemical oxidant gas and hydrocarbons (HC). Different
treatment processes are applied for controlling these and other gaseous emissions. These
processes include adsorption and absorption. Selection of appropriate technique depends in part,
physical and chemical characteristic of specific gas and the vapour phase compounds present in
the gas stream.
For stationary air pollution sources, we can select single or combined air pollution control
technique. Variety of devices are used for controlling gaseous pollutant, and choosing most cost
effective, most cost efficient unit requires careful attention to the particular operation for which
control devices are intended. In order to control the emissions within given standard emissions it
is necessary to monitor emissions carefully after selecting best control technique.
Pressure: Adsorption capacity increases with an increase in the partial pressure of the vapour.
The partial pressure of a vapour is proportional to the total pressure of the system. Any increase
in pressure will increase the adsorption capacity of a system. The increase in capacity occurs
because of a decrease in the mean free path of vapour at higher pressures [7, 8].
Gas velocity: The gas determines the contact or residence time between the contaminant stream
and adsorbent. The slower the contaminant stream flows through the adsorbent bed, the greater
the probability of a contaminant molecule reaching an available site.
In order to achieve 90% or more capture efficiency, most carbon adsorption systems are
designed for a maximum airflow velocity of 100 ft/min (30 m/min) through the adsorber. A
lower limit of at least 20 ft/min (6 m/min) is maintained to avoid flow problems such as
channeling. Gas velocity through the adsorber is a function of the cross-sectional area of the
adsorber for a given volume of contaminant gas.
Humidity: Activated carbon has more affinity towards nonpolar hydrocarbons over polar water
vapour. The water vapour molecules in the exhaust stream exhibit strong attractions for each
other rather than the adsorbent. At high relative humidity, over 50%, the number of water
molecules increases to the extent that they begin to compete with the hydrocarbon molecules for
active adsorption sites. This reduces the capacity and the efficiency of the adsorption system [8].
Bed Depth: Providing a sufficient depth of adsorbent is very important in achieving efficient gas
removal due to the rate that VOC compounds are adsorbed in the bed. There are practical
minimum and maximum limits to the bed depth.
REFERENCES
[1] Khare, M., Sinha, M. Computer Aided Simulation of Efficiency of an Electrostatic
Precipitator. Journal of Environmental International, 2006, 23 (1-6), 451-462.
[2] http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Catalytic-Converter.
[3] Theodore, L. ‘Adsorbers’ in “Air Pollution Control Equipment Calculations”, Wiley,
2008.
[4] Spellman, F. R. "Gaseous Emission Control", Environmental Engineer’s Mathematics
Handbook, Taylor & Francis, Inc., 2004.
[5] Mycock, J. C., McKenna, J. D., Theodore, L. “Air pollution control engineering and
technology”, Lewis publishers, Boca Raton, Fla, USA, 1995.
[6] Liu, D. H. F., Liptak, B. G., Bous, P. A. “Environmental Engineering Handbook”, 2nd
edition, CRC Press, LLC, Florida, 1997.
[7] Peavy, H. S., Rowe, D. R., Tchobanoglous, G. “Environmental Engineering”, McGraw-
Hill, 1985.
[8] http://www.scribd.com/doc/37001353/81836-03b.