The sulfation model of Simons and Rawlins (1980) is extended to include the effect of product deposits. The model includes: 1. the plugging of the smallest pores and the subsequent loss in the internal surface area, 2. the diffusion of the SO, through the product deposits, and 3. the loss of intraparticle diffusion due to the complete plugging of the largest pores. It is shown that the plugging of the smallest pores is generally rate-controlling.
G. A. Simons, A. R. GarmanPhysical Sciences Inc.Andover, MA 01810
SCOPECurrent sulfation models (Hartman and Coughlin, 1976, 1978; Bhatia and Perlmutter, 1981a,b;Christman and Edgar, 1983;Bardakci, 1984;Marsh and Ulrichson, 1982; Ramachandran and Smith, 1977) describe the intraparticle diffusion of SO, through porous CaO, the intrinsic kinetics of the CaO + SO, reaction, the buildup of the product layer (CaSO,), the subsequent particle deactivation due to the relatively slow diffusion of SO, through the CaSO, to the unreacted CaO, and the ultimate termination of the reaction due to the plugging of the entire local porosity with the product deposits. These models are analyzed, and the results suggest an alternative deactivation mechanism: the plugging of the smallest pores and the associated loss in internal surface area. A pore-plugging model is developed that is compatible with a treelike description of pore branching (Simons, 1982). Product deposits systematically fill pores of all sizes, with the result that the entire local porosity is eventually plugged. The model is validated with both SO, and H, S sorption data without invoking any adjustable parameters, such as the product layer diffusion coefficient. The model is readily available for parametric studies of the effect of sulfur concentration, particle size, porosity, internal surface area, and temperature on the calcium utilization achieved within specified time scales appropriate to various combustor or gasification devices.
CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCEThe sorption of H,S and SO, by a porous sorbent material (CaO) is described. The present model is distinct from previous models in its treatment of the role of the deposit layer, CaS for H, S sorption and CaSO, for SO, sorption. The development of this product layer induces the deactivation of the sorbent particle. Previous models attribute this deactivation to diffusion through the product layer, whereas the present model attributes this deactivation to the plugging of the smallest pores and the subsequent loss of internal surface area. The plugging of small pores is validated by comCorrespondence concerning this paper should be addressed to G. A. Simons.parison of the present theory to data on BET surface evolution with sulfur sorption. The time-dependent sorbent model is validated by extensive comparisons with SO, and H,S sorption data. The larger late time utilization of CaO by H, S and the faster late time utilization rate are explained solely on the basis of the smaller molar volume of the product, CaS. The plugging of small pores simply occurs at higher ...