Conceptual design of a new SF6 abatement technology using a multi-bed series reactor for the production of valuable chemicals free of toxic wastes

Abstract

Conceptual design using multi-bed series reactors consisting of catalysts and adsorbent beds was performed for a new SF6 abatement and utilization technology free of toxic chemicals to reduce SF6 emissions and produce valuable products like CaF2 and CaSO4 simultaneously. With process simulation studies using Aspen HYSYS®, comparative studies for a single-bed reactor (SR-1), a two-bed series reactor (SR-2), and a three-bed series reactor (SR-3) revealed that more CaF2 and CaSO4 were produced in multi-bed series reactors compared to a SR-1 (SR-3 > SR-2 > SR-1) possibly due to sorption-enhanced hydrolysis. In addition, lower operating temperatures were observed in multi-bed series reactors (TSR1 > TSR2 > TSR3) showing the positive effect of using multi-bed series reactors for a simultaneous SF6 abatement and utilization technology.