CFD simulation of turbulent mass transfer of H2S and O2 in a stirring tank.

Abstract

This study explores the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of oxygen (O₂) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) mass transfer in a highly turbulent stirring tank. Using the open-source software OpenFOAM, we extended three-dimensional two-phase flow solvers with a rotating mesh feature to model the mass transfer processes between the water and air phases. The accuracy of these simulations was validated against experimental data, demonstrating a strong agreement in the mass transfer rates of H₂S and O₂. The investigation highlights the impact of turbulence on mass transfer coefficients, confirming the reliability of the solvers for predicting mass transfer in turbulent conditions. The results suggest that these CFD models can serve as effective tools for understanding and optimizing sewer system designs. Additionally, the study highlights the potential of numerical simulations to reduce the need for extensive and potentially hazardous laboratory experiments.