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Kinetics of the Reaction between Sulfur Dioxide and Calcium Oxide at a Low Temperature: Mathematical Modeling
Cinética de la reacción entre dióxido de azufre y óxido de calcio a baja temperatura: modelado matemático
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.121537Keywords:
activation, desulfurization, diffusivity, thermogravimetry, unreacted core model (en)activación, desulfuración, difusividad, termogravimetría, modelo de núcleo no reaccionado (es)
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The use of high-sulfur crude oil in power generation plants has increased SO₂ emissions and reduced the service life of steam generators due to corrosive effects in the low-temperature zone, with consequent economic and environmental impacts. The introduction of SO₂ reduction technology using CaO requires an understanding of how the reacting system develops, its governing parameters, the stages controlling the reaction rate, and the kinetic model to which it conforms, among other critical aspects. The objective of this study was to determine the kinetic parameters characterizing the reaction between SO₂ and CaO at low temperatures, as described by the unreacted core model. In a laboratory-scale facility, the reaction temperature was set at 200, 300, and 400 °C, and the SO₂ concentration in air at 2%, 4%, and 6%. Gas-film resistance and gas diffusion within the solid bed were eliminated. The results showed that the rate-controlling step is the resistance of the product layer. SO₂ reduction increased with rising temperature and SO₂ concentration, and CaO conversion did not exceed 20%. The pre-exponential factor was 2.938 × 10⁻¹⁴ m²/s, and the activation energy was 17.23 kJ/mol, values characteristic of processes limited by physical diffusion.
El uso de petróleo crudo con alto contenido de azufre en plantas de generación de energía ha incrementado las emisiones de SO₂ y reducido la vida útil del generador de vapor debido a los efectos corrosivos en la zona de bajas temperaturas, con el consecuente impacto económico y medioambiental. La introducción de una tecnología de reducción del SO₂ con CaO requiere comprender cómo se desarrolla el sistema reaccionante, cuáles son sus parámetros, las etapas que controlan la velocidad de reacción y el modelo cinético al que se ajusta, entre otros aspectos de gran importancia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar los parámetros cinéticos que caracterizan la reacción entre el SO₂ y el CaO a bajas temperaturas, descritos por el modelo cinético del núcleo sin reaccionar (NSR). En una instalación a escala de laboratorio se ajustó la temperatura de reacción en los valores de 200, 300 y 400 °C, y la concentración de SO₂ en aire en 2%, 4% y 6%. Se eliminó la resistencia de la película gaseosa y la difusión del gas dentro del lecho de sólidos. Como resultado, la etapa controlante de la velocidad es la resistencia de la capa de producto. La reducción de SO₂ aumenta con el incremento de la temperatura y la concentración de SO₂, y no se alcanzan valores de conversión del CaO por encima del 20%. El factor preexponencial es 2,938 × 10⁻¹⁴ m²/s y la energía de activación es de 17,23 kJ/mol, valores característicos de procesos limitados por difusión física.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Isnel Benítez Cortés, Reni Danilo Vinocunga-Pillajo, Luis Beltrán Ramos Sánchez, Agustín García Rodríguez, Estela Guardado Yordi, Grety Márquez Peñamaría, Amaury Pérez Martínez

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