On Solvent Losses in Amine Absorption Columns

Abstract

The current work was dedicated to developing a novel model based on the mass transfer theory in combination with classical nucleation theory in order to predict the amount of solvent loss in the amine absorption columns. The work was adopted to consider the physical mechanisms leading to amine loss, including mass transfer, aerosol formation, and evaporation of the amine. Aspen Plus simulator and MATLAB software were integrated to make such simulations possible through a round−trip interaction. The model predictions for the temperature and concentration of different components were compared with the literature experimental data, and a fair agreement was seen. Then, the effects of some parameters such as the inlet stream temperature, particle concentration, and diameter on the amine loss were investigated. The results of this study may help engineers and practitioners properly design the amine absorption columns to reduce amine consumption.

Reducing Aerosol Emissions by Decoupled Parameter Management during the CO2 Capture Process in a Multi-stage Circulation Absorber

“…Solvent emissions in the form of vapor and aerosols are one of the challenges in realizing a full-scale absorption–desorption-based post-combustion CO 2 capture (PCCC) plant. − Currently, amine-based solvents, such as monoethanolamine (MEA) solution, have been demonstrated at various pilot scales, culminating in commercial-scale deployment. , However, due to their inherent volatility, solvents will be entrained in the exhaust gas, leading to solvent volatility losses up to 0.8 kg/t CO 2 and atmospheric pollution, which raises great concerns about techno-economic and environmental safety…”