Application of computational fluid dynamics analysis for improving performance of commercial scale selective catalytic reduction

Jin Man Cho; Jeong-Woo Choi; Sung Ho Hong; Kwang Chu Kim; Jung Hee Na; Jun Yub Lee

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.23, No.1, 43-56, January, 2006

Jin Man Cho^†, Jeong-Woo Choi¹, Sung Ho Hong², Kwang Chu Kim², Jung Hee Na², and Jun Yub Lee²

Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, #1 Sinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-742, Korea
¹Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, #1 Sinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-742, Korea
²Korea Power Engineering Company, INC., 360-9 Mabuk-ri, Guseong-eup, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 449-713, Korea

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The performance of commercial scale selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system is strongly dependant upon the degree of mixing between NH3 and NOx or NH3 concentration distribution at the catalyst layer according to the reaction kinetics of SCR catalysts. Insufficient mixing of the reduction agent and NOx mass flow necessitates an uneconomically large catalyst volume and high NH3 slip to meet the required NOx emission values. The effective methodology which can increase the performance of commercial scale SCR through improving NH3 concentration distribution at the catalyst layer using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was suggested and applied to the real operations. The operation results have shown that the performance of commercial SCR was improved from 54.4% to 74.8% as NH3 concentration deviation at the catalyst layer was reduced from 23.6% to 8.6%. It is established that the increase of NH3 concentration uniformity at the catalyst layer contributes to improvement of performance of commercial scale SCR.

Keywords:Commercial Scale Selective Catalytic Reduction;Computational Fluid Dynamics;NOx;NH3 Concentration Distribution

[References]

Adams B, Cremer M, Valentine J, Bhamidipati V, Letcavits J, O'Connor D, Vierstra S, Use of CFD modeling for design of NOx reduction systems in utility boilers, Proceeding of the 2002 International Joint Power Generation Conference, ASME, Phoenix, AZ (2002)
Arbind P, The National Environmental Journal, 46 (1995)
Bruce I, The American Ceramic Society Bulletin, 81 (1995)
Fluent User's Guide, Version 6.1; Fluent: Lebanon, NH (1998)
Freek K, Lydia S, Nico JJD, Jacob AM, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 445, 32 (1993)
Heck RM, Chen JM, Speronello BK, Environ. Prog., 221, 13 (1994)
Jaime B, Progress engineering and design for air pollution control, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (1993)
Jiri S, Natale F, Pio F, Enrico T, Fiorenzo B, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 1053, 32 (1993)
Kenneth JF, John HC, Oil Gas J., 56 (1993)
Kevin R, Mel A, Michael V, Numerical modeling for design optimization of SCR applications, ICAC NOx Forum Washington D.C. (2000)
Kevin R, Milobowski M, Wooldridge B, Perspectives on ammonia injection and gaseous static mixing in SCR retrofit applications, EPRI-DOE-EPA Combined Utility Air Pollutant Control Symposium, Washington D.C. (1999)
Kokkinos A, Nelson N, Stirgwolt W, Structural considerations for SCR retrofits, EPRI-DOE-EPA Combined Utility Air Pollutant Control Symposium, Washington D.C. (1999)
Kotter M, Lintz HG, Int. Chem. Eng., 685, 31 (1991)
Launder BE, Spalding DB, Mathematical models of turbulence, Academic Press, London, England (1972)
Pantankar SV, Numerical heat transfer and fluid flow, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington D.C. (1980)
Ralf S, Cindy K, Edward H, "Enhance ammonia distribution for maximum SCR performance", Institute of Clean Air Companies Forum 2003, 4, Oct. (2003)
Sayre A, Milobowski M, Validation of numerical models of flow through SCR units, EPRI-DOE-EPA Combined Utility Air Pollutant Control Symposium, Washington D.C. (1999)

[Referenced By]

[Related Articles]

[1] Adams B, Cremer M, Valentine J, Bhamidipati V, Letcavits J, O'Connor D, Vierstra S, Use of CFD modeling for design of NOx reduction systems in utility boilers, Proceeding of the 2002 International Joint Power Generation Conference, ASME, Phoenix, AZ (2002)

[2] Arbind P, The National Environmental Journal, 46 (1995)

[3] Bruce I, The American Ceramic Society Bulletin, 81 (1995)

[4] Fluent User's Guide, Version 6.1; Fluent: Lebanon, NH (1998)

[5] Freek K, Lydia S, Nico JJD, Jacob AM, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 445, 32 (1993)

[6] Heck RM, Chen JM, Speronello BK, Environ. Prog., 221, 13 (1994)

[7] Jaime B, Progress engineering and design for air pollution control, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (1993)

[8] Jiri S, Natale F, Pio F, Enrico T, Fiorenzo B, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 1053, 32 (1993)

[9] Kenneth JF, John HC, Oil Gas J., 56 (1993)

[10] Kevin R, Mel A, Michael V, Numerical modeling for design optimization of SCR applications, ICAC NOx Forum Washington D.C. (2000)

[11] Kevin R, Milobowski M, Wooldridge B, Perspectives on ammonia injection and gaseous static mixing in SCR retrofit applications, EPRI-DOE-EPA Combined Utility Air Pollutant Control Symposium, Washington D.C. (1999)

[12] Kokkinos A, Nelson N, Stirgwolt W, Structural considerations for SCR retrofits, EPRI-DOE-EPA Combined Utility Air Pollutant Control Symposium, Washington D.C. (1999)

[13] Kotter M, Lintz HG, Int. Chem. Eng., 685, 31 (1991)

[14] Launder BE, Spalding DB, Mathematical models of turbulence, Academic Press, London, England (1972)

[15] Pantankar SV, Numerical heat transfer and fluid flow, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington D.C. (1980)

[16] Ralf S, Cindy K, Edward H, "Enhance ammonia distribution for maximum SCR performance", Institute of Clean Air Companies Forum 2003, 4, Oct. (2003)

[17] Sayre A, Milobowski M, Validation of numerical models of flow through SCR units, EPRI-DOE-EPA Combined Utility Air Pollutant Control Symposium, Washington D.C. (1999)