CFD modeling and simulation of sulfur trioxide decomposition in ceramic plate-fin high temperature heat exchanger and decomposer

In this study numerical analysis was carried out for four different types of fins namely rectangular, triangular, inverted bolt fins and ripsaw fins and three different types of arrangements namely straight, staggered and top and bottom arrangement. The obtained results were compared with each other and the design with the highest decomposition percentage of sulfur trioxide was selected. The working fluids used in the model were sulfur trioxide, sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water vapor. The operating pressure was 1.5 MPa and the operating temperature ranges from 973 K to 1223 K. From the results it was found that the ripsaw fin design with thickness of 0.05 mm gives the highest decomposition percentage of sulfur trioxide. The inverted bolt fins gives a good heat transfer rate but due to the fin arrangement and the flow disturbances caused by the arrangement the pressure drop was the highest compared to the other fins. The pressure drop and heat transfer obtained for the rectangular and triangular fins were similar to each other. The obtained decomposition percentage of sulfur trioxide for straight, staggered and top and bottom arrangement were 17.60%, 16.74% and 20.55%. The obtained decomposition percentage increased from 16.74% to 85.15% when the channel length of the heat exchanger was increased ten times. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.