Absorber design for the improvement of the efficiency of post-combustion CO2 capture

The objective of this paper is to design the absorber unit in order to separate the CO2 of the flue gases resulted from coal combustion. The design model was made for various types of packages using plastic, ceramic or metal rings. It was also considered that the capture process efficiency was 85%, and the monoethanolamine concentration in the solution varied between 10 and 30%. We analyzed the oldest and the newest types of package rings (Raschig rings, ceramic Berl saddle rings), as well as various types of metal and plastic Pall rings. In the model developed in this paper, the physical properties of package materials were taken into account (density, surface area, void fraction, etc). By applying the proposed model, we obtained results concerning the influence of the L/G ratio on the CO2 capture efficiency, the rich and the lean loading solvent the solvent flow pumped through the absorber unit, the type and the size of package (height, diameter, etc). The objective of the paper is to compare the experimental results obtained in the CFBC (Circulating Fluidized Bed) pilot installation with those obtained in the mathematical model. (C) 2014 Energy Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.