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Use Of An Applied Statistical Method To Optimize Efficiency Of An Air Pollution Scrubber Within An Undergraduate Laboratory

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Conference

2003 Annual Conference

Location

Nashville, Tennessee

Publication Date

June 22, 2003

Start Date

June 22, 2003

End Date

June 25, 2003

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Statistics in the CHE Curriculum

Page Count

13

Page Numbers

8.1228.1 - 8.1228.13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--12072

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/12072

Download Count

345

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Paper Authors

author page

Jimmy Smart

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Abstract

Optimal operation of a gas absorption column (scrubber) is based upon a favorable combination of operating conditions that will achieve the greatest reduction in contaminant removal at the lowest cost, while satisfying environmental regulations. Fine tuning and optimization of gas scrubbers are usually accomplished by operating personnel in the field once the equipment has been designed, constructed, and installed. Industrial supervisors do not encourage operating personnel to experiment with column operation by varying ranges of operating parameters. Inappropriate changes could cause upset conditions that might lead to release of contaminated gas streams and result in a violation of an approved environmental air permit. A simple introduction to use of the Evolutionary Operation (EVOP) statistical method is provided to demonstrate how it can be applied to the optimization of an air pollution scrubber. This exercise was organized to be used in an undergraduate chemical engineering laboratory. The aim of this work is not to specifically identify the overall optimum set of operating conditions for maximizing scrubber performance, but to demonstrate use of the EVOP method. Students gain experience in use of the method and can apply learned principles to optimize operation of other engineering equipment. Final results of this study does identify favored packing material and in what direction the optimum will reside for conditions of temperature and scrubber liquor caustic concentration.

Smart, J. (2003, June), Use Of An Applied Statistical Method To Optimize Efficiency Of An Air Pollution Scrubber Within An Undergraduate Laboratory Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12072

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