Pilot-Scale Carbon Capture in a Heat-Pipe-Intercooled Rotating Packed Bed

The equipment size and energy penalties of carbon-capture processes can be reduced substantially by using rotating packed beds (RPB) and high-concentration amines. However, intercooling the absorption process is necessary to remove the heat-of-reaction that would otherwise halt CO₂ absorption in full-scale processes. This paper presents pilot-scale experimental results in carbon capture, using a novel intercooled RPB rotor design that incorporates thermosyphon heat pipes and a variable-area packing. Tests outline the performance benefits of the design and present a correlation for the effects of rotation speed and liquid flow on overall gas-side mass-transfer coefficient (K_ga_e). The results show that K_ga_e is improved by 130% in comparison to previous conventional RPB rotor designs, providing an experimental demonstration of the benefits of intercooled RPBs in intensified carbon-capture processes.