Moving bed temperature swing adsorption processes for post-combustion CO2 capture

Meghani, Bishan (2015) Moving bed temperature swing adsorption processes for post-combustion CO2 capture. EngD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Due to high regeneration energy demands for amine absorption processes for post-combustion CO2 capture, alternative technologies such as adsorption processes using solid adsorbents have been considered. Other practical issues such as corrosion of equipment and loss of solvent can be avoided with adsorption processes. Fixed bed adsorption processes, in which CO2 adsorption and adsorbent regeneration are performed successively in a vessel packed with adsorbent, are the most common adsorption processes. However, in fixed bed temperature swing adsorption (TSA) processes, large columns and long heating and cooling times would be needed. Fixed bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes use electrical energy, which is more expensive than thermal energy in a power plant. Therefore, the feasibility of moving bed adsorption processes including fluidised-bed, co-current and counter-current systems is investigated. In these systems, the adsorbent continuously circulates from a CO2 adsorber to a regenerator. The adsorbents considered are a supported amine adsorbent, activated carbon and zeolite 13X.

Numerical simulations of moving bed TSA cycles for CO2 capture have been carried out. The effects of influential parameters in the process have been assessed via sensitivity analyses. It was found that counter-current beds with supported amine adsorbent give the best overall performance. Compared to an amine absorption process, it was found that a moving bed TSA process without heat integration requires the same heat consumption per unit mass of CO2 captured. There is a potential for a lower heat consumption in moving bed TSA processes if, similarly to amine absorption processes, heat integration is carried out or if the CO2 working capacity of the adsorbent can be increased.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (EngD)
Supervisors: Wright, A.
Drage, T.
Rigby, S.
Tokay, B.
Keywords: Post-combustion CO2 capture, adsorption, modelling, temperature swing adsorption
Subjects: T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering
Item ID: 29140
Depositing User: Meghani, Bishan
Date Deposited: 23 Nov 2015 11:25
Last Modified: 13 Oct 2017 16:55
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/29140

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