Optimization of Supercritical Water Oxidation(SCWO) Process for Decomposing Nitromethane

The optimization of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) process for decomposing nitromethane was studied by means of a design of experiments. The optimum operating region for the SCWO process to minimize COD and T-N of treated water was obtained in a lab scale unit. The authors had compared the results from a SCWO pilot plant with those from a lab scale system to explore the problems of scale-up of SCWO process. The COD and T-N in treated waters were selected as key process output variables (KPOV) for optimization, and the reaction temperature (Temp) and the mole ratio of nitromethane to ammonium hydroxide (NAR) were selected as key process input variables (KPIV) through the preliminary tests. The central composite design as a statistical design of experiments was applied to the optimization, and the experimental results were analyzed by means of the response surface method. From the main effects analysis, it was declared that COD of treated water steeply decreased with increasing Temp but slightly decreased with an increase in NAR, and T-N decreased with increasing both Temp and NAR. At lower Temp as $420{\sim}430^{\circ}C$, the T-N steeply decreased with an increase in NAR, however its variation was negligible at higher Temp above $450^{\circ}C$. The regression equations for COD and T-N were obtained as quadratic models with coded Temp and NAR, and they were confirmed with coefficient of determination ($r^2$) and normality of standardized residuals. The optimum operating region was defined as Temp $450-460^{\circ}C$ and NAR 1.03-1.08 by the intersection area of COD < 2 mg/L and T-N < 40 mg/L with regression equations and considering corrosion prevention. To confirm the optimization results and investigate the scale-up problems of SCWO process, the nitromethane was decomposed in a pilot plant. The experimental results from a SCWO pilot plant were compared with regression equations of COD and T-N, respectively. The results of COD and T-N from a pilot plant could be predicted well with regression equations which were derived in a lab scale SCWO system, although the errors of pilot plant data were larger than lab ones. The predictabilities were confirmed by the parity plots and the normality analyses of standardized residuals.

Nitromethane 분해를 위한 초임계수 산화(SCWO) 공정 최적화

실험계획법을 이용하여 nitromethane을 초임계수산화(SCWO)로 분해시키는 공정의 최적화 연구를 진행하였다. Lab scale 반응설비를 이용하여 처리수의 COD와 T-N을 최소화하는 SCWO 공정의 최적 운전조건을 도출하였으며, scale-up 문제점을 파악하기 위해 SCWO pilot plant 실험 결과와 lab scale 최적화 실험 결과를 비교하였다. 처리수의 COD와 T-N을 최적화 목적 변수(KPOV)로 설정하였으며, 예비실험을 통해 반응 온도(temp)와 nitromethane과 암모니아수의 몰 비(NAR)를 주요 운전 변수(KPIV)로 설정하였다. 최적화 실험은 통계적 실험계획법인 중심합성설계법을 사용하였으며, 실험결과의 해석은 반응표면법을 활용하였다. 주 효과 분석결과 처리수의 COD는 Temp 증가에 따라 급격하게 감소하며, NAR 증가에 따라 약간 감소하는 것으로 나타났으며, T-N은 Temp 와 NAR 증가에 따라 감소하였다. Temp가 $420{\sim}430^{\circ}C$로 낮을 때에는 NAR 증가에 따라 T-N이 급격히 감소하였으나, $450^{\circ}C$ 이상으로 높을 때에는 큰 변화가 없었다. 최적화 실험 결과를 회귀분석 하여 처리수의 COD와 T-N 을 예측할 수 있도록 Temp와 NAR이 변수인 2차식으로 회귀식을 도출하였으며, 결정계수($r^2$)와 표준화잔차의 정규성을 분석하여 회귀식이 실험결과를 잘 모사하는 것을 확인하였다. 회귀식을 이용하여 COD < 2 mg/L, T-N<40 mg/L를 동시에 만족시키며 부식 위험이 적은 nitromethane 분해 최적 운전 조건은 Temp $450-460^{\circ}C$, NAR 1.03-1.08로 설정하였다. SCWO pilot plant를 이용하여 nitromethane 분해 최적 조건을 검증하고, SCWO 공정의 scale-up 문제점을 파악하는 연구를 실시하였다. SCWO pilot plant 실험 결과를 lab scale 반응설비에서 도출한 COD와 T-N의 회귀식과 비교한 결과 오차가 증가하지만 회귀식이 pilot plant 실험결과도 잘 나타내는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. Pilot plant 실험결과에 대한 회귀식의 적합성은 실험값과 예측값의 비교도와 표준화잔차의 정규성으로 검증하였다.