Modeling and economic analysis of block absorber (RadFrac) performance with stage variations for post-combustion CO2 capture

This study presents a comprehensive modeling and economic evaluation of a Monoethanolamine (MEA)-based post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) absorber unit. The simulation provides detailed insights into the absorber's internal profiles, including temperature gradients and the percentage of CO2 captured, with a particular focus on the effects of varying the number of stages and absorber diameters. Validation against experimental data demonstrated close alignment between simulated and observed values, with an average Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) of 0.018 and 4.0129, respectively, confirming the reliability of the simulation in capturing the complex dynamics of the absorber. The economic analysis, conducted using the Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA), simplified the complex relationship between absorber segmentation, capital and operational costs, and absorber diameter. The study revealed that increasing the absorber diameter and the number of stages leads to a significant rise in Total Capital Cost (TCC), Total Operating Cost (TOC), Equipment Cost, and Total Installed Cost (TIC), with the highest costs observed at a stage number of 90 and a diameter of 1.0 m. However, the analysis identified an optimal configuration at an absorber diameter of 0.45 m with either 10 or 20 stages. This setup effectively balances cost and CO2 capture efficiency, offering a more economical solution compared to configurations with larger diameters and higher stage numbers, which substantially increase expenses. The findings highlight the critical trade-offs between operational efficiency and capital expenditure, stressing on the crucial role of absorber diameter in determining the economic feasibility of the absorber block in PCC systems.