Intensification of HCl removal from flue gas using a rotor-stator reactor

Abstract

The emission of HCl in flue gas causes serious environmental problems and its removal methods have attracted wide attention. This work investigated the intensification of HCl removal from flue gas in a rotor–stator reactor. The effects of high gravity factor, gas flow rate, water flow rate, temperature and inlet concentration of HCl on the removal efficiency of HCl, overall volumetric gas-phase mass-transfer coefficient (KGa) and height of a transfer unit in the removal of HCl by water in the rotor–stator reactor were investigated. Comparisons with conventional column indicated that the rotor–stator reactor had better mass-transfer performance and may have economic advantages in HCl removal. Comparison experiments showed that KGa and height of a transfer unit in the rotor–stator reactor were 10.9–45.2% higher and 41.5–55.7% lower, respectively, than those in a rotating packed bed, indicating that rotor–stator reactor has a superior capability for the removal of HCl in flue gas and other processes controlled by gas-side mass transfer. An artificial neural network model was established to predict the KGa of HCl removal from flue gas by water in the rotor–stator reactor. This work demonstrates that rotor–stator reactor is an effective process intensification technology for the removal of HCl from flue gas.