Simulação e Dimensionamento de Coluna de Recheio para Absorção de Ozônio em Água

Abstract

The increasing presence of micropollutants and organic by-products in natural water sources has driven the development of advanced treatment technologies capable of ensuring water quality for public supply. In this context, ozone (O₃) stands out as an efficient oxidizing agent for disinfection and contaminant degradation processes. This study aimed to simulate a gas–liquid absorption column for the ozone–water system, evaluating the influence of packing geometry on hydrodynamic performance and mass transfer parameters, including a qualitative discussion of the effect of the packing material. The methodology was based on computational simulation using the ChemSep software, applying the Equilibrium Stage Model and Henry’s law to describe gas–liquid equilibrium. Three packing geometries with a nominal diameter of 0,051 meters were evaluated: Raschig rings, Pall rings, and Nutter rings, under constant operating conditions. The results indicated that packing geometry significantly affects column design. The Raschig packing showed inferior performance, with a column height of approximately 60.27 m and HETP of 6.95 m, while Pall and Nutter packings showed superior and equivalent performance, with column heights of approximately 13.47 m and HETP of 1.33 m. The estimated overall efficiency remained constant among the cases, indicating limitations of the model in capturing subtle differences between advanced packing geometries. In addition, ozone absorption was limited due to its low solubility in water. It is concluded that packing geometry plays a crucial role in absorption column design, with Pall and Nutter packings being more suitable for the studied system. Computational simulation proved to be an effective tool for preliminary analysis and comparison of operational configurations in ozonation processes.