Amine modeling for CO2 capture: internals selection.

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Mass Transfer Operations
• Process Design

Background:

• Trays are traditionally used in amine absorption units for mass transfer.
• High costs associated with large trayed columns for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture necessitate alternatives.
• Lack of clear selection guidelines for packing in amine units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide well-defined guidelines and a framework for selecting mass-transfer devices in amine absorbers and regenerators.
• To address the need for efficient and cost-effective CO2 capture technologies.
• To compare the performance and economics of packings versus trays.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the flow parameter (column liquid loading and pressure) for packing selection.
• Evaluation of capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX) for different mass-transfer devices.
• Development of a consistent framework for choosing between packings and trays.

Main Results:

• Packings, including third-generation random and structured packings, are viable alternatives to trays.
• The flow parameter significantly influences the choice of packing.
• Packings demonstrate substantial economic advantages over trays in terms of both CAPEX and OPEX.

Conclusions:

• Packings offer a more economical solution for mass transfer in amine units compared to traditional trays.
• The developed guidelines facilitate informed decisions in the selection of mass-transfer equipment for CO2 capture.
• Implementing packings can lead to significant cost savings in amine absorption and regeneration processes.