Novel Solvent Regeneration Process through Direct Steam Stripping

High energy consumption during solvent regeneration is a crucial issue for the CO2 post-combustion capture by chemical absorption. In order to save the latent heat in the regeneration process, it is possible to regenerate the solvent through direct steam stripping. This work aims to validate the direct steam stripping process by experimental study on a lab-scale stripper column. The novel direct steam stripping process showed potential to reduce regeneration energy in comparison to the conventional regeneration process. The minimum energy consumption of direct steam stripping mode was 2.98 MJ/kg CO2, 23% lower than that of the conventional regeneration mode which is 3.88 MJ/kg CO2. Water balance was also investigated. Based on the experimental results, a high feeding solvent temperature close to solvent boiling point and superheated carrier steam was preferred for direct steam stripping process. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.