A Numerical Analysis of the Abatement of VOC with Different Photocatalytic Honeycomb Filters

This study has been numerically conducted to investigate the removal efficiency of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) for different photocatalytic honeycomb filters. Recently, the photocatalysis is being applied to air-cleaner, air-conditioner and vacuum-cleaner with the capability of air-purification, sterilization and antibiosis. However, photocatalysis is less efficient than other methods for removing VOC except in the case of low concentration. So far most of studies have focused on an improvement of the photocatalytic materials, but this study have placed emphasis on the improvements of shape of photocatalytic honeycomb filter. UV irradiation, concentration profile and pressure drop have been investigated for different cross sections of filters and for different filter lengths. Light intensity is dropped sharply with increasing distance from the UV-lamp, and becomes very low in the middle of the filters. Since photocatalytic reaction rate is a function of light intensity, VOC concentration gradient might be small in the middle of long filters. Thus, most of reaction have risen within only three times of dimensionless axial distance. These results can be used effectively for the design of advanced photocatalytic honeycomb filters.

광촉매 필터형상에 따른 휘발성 유기화합물의 제거에 관한 수치해석적 연구