The effect of membrane pores wettability on CO_2 removal from CO_2/CH_4 gaseous mixture using NaOH, MEA and TEA liquid absorbents in hollow fiber membrane contactor

The present paper renders a modeling and a 2D numerical simulation for the removal of CO_2from CO_2/CH_4gaseous stream utilizing sodium hydroxide(NaOH),monoethanolamine(MEA)and triethanolamine(TEA)liquid absorbents inside the hollow fiber membrane contactor.Counter-current arrangement of absorbing agents and CO_2/CH_4gaseous mixture flows are implemented in the modeling and numerical simulation.Non-wetting and partial wetting modes of operation are considered where in the partial wetting mode,CO_2/CH_4gaseous mixture and liquid absorbents fill the membrane pores.The deteriorated removal of CO_2in the partial wetting mode of operation is mainly due to the mass transfer resistance imposed by the liquid in the pores of membrane.The validation of numerical simulation is done based on the comparison of simulation results of CO_2removal using Na OH and experimental data under non-wetting mode of operation.The comparison illustrates a desirable agreement with an average deviation of less than 5%.According to the results,MEA provides higher efficiency for CO_2removal in comparison with the other liquid absorbents.The order for CO_2removal performance is MEAN Na OHN TEA.The influence of non-wetting and partial wetting modes of operation on CO_2removal are evaluated in this article as one of the novelties.Besides,the percentage of CO_2sequestration as a function of gas velocity for various percentages of membrane pores wetting ranging from 0(non-wetting mode of operation)to 100%(complete wetting mode of operation)is studied in this research paper,which can be proposed as the other novelty.The results indicate that increase in some operational parameters such as module length,membrane porosity and absorbents concentration encourage the removal percentage of CO_2from CO_2/CH_4gaseous mixture while increasing in membrane tortuosity,gas velocity and initial CO_2concentration has unfavorable influence on the separation efficiency of CO_2.

Simulation and energy performance assessment of CO_2 removal from crude synthetic natural gas via physical absorption process

The paper presents an energy performance assessment of CO2 removal for crude synthetic natural gas （SNG） upgrade by Selexol absorption process. A simplified process simulation of the Selexol process concerning power requirement and separation performance was developed. The assessment indicates that less pressure difference between crude SNG and absorption pressure favors the energy performance of CO2 removal process. When both crude SNG and absorption pressures are 20 bar, CO2 removal process has the best energy performance. The optimal specific power consumption of the CO2 removal process is 566 kJ/kgCO2. The sensitivity analysis shows that the CO2 removal efficiency would significantly influence the total power consumption of the removal process, as well as higher heating value （HHV） and CO2 content in SNG. However, the specific power consumption excluding crude SNG and SNG compressions changes little with the variance of CO2 removal efficiency. If by-product CO2 is compressed for CO2 capture, the process would turn into a CO2-sink for the atmosphere. Correspondingly, an increase of 281 kJ/kgCO2 in specific power consumption is required for compressing the separated CO2.

A novel application of the SAWD-Sabatier-SPE integrated system for CO_2 removal and O_2 regeneration in submarine cabins during prolonged voyages

To improve the working and living environment of submarine crews, an integrated system of CO2 removal and O2 regeneration was designed to work under experimental conditions for 50 people in a submarine cabin during prolonged voyages. The integrated system comprises a solid amine water desorption （SAWD） unit for CO2 collection and concentration, a Sabatier reactor for CO2 reduction and a solid polymer electrolyte （SPE） unit for O2 regeneration by electrolysis. The performances of the SAWD-Sabatier-SPE integrated system were investigated. The experimental results from the SAWD unit showed that the average CO2 concentration in the CO2 storage tank was more than 96% and the outlet CO2 concentration was nearly zero in the first 45 min, and less than 1/10 of inlet CO2 after 60 min when input CO2 was 0.5% （1000 L）. About 950 L of CO2 was recovered with a recovery rate of 92%-97%. The output CO2 concentration was less than 0.2%, which showed that the adsorption-desorption performance of this unit was excellent. In the CO2 reduction unit we investigated mainly the start-up and reaction performance of the Sabatier reactor. The start-up time of the Sabatier reactor was 6, 8 and 10 rain when the start-up temperature was 187.3, 179.5 and 168 ℃, respectively. The product water was colorless, transparent, and had a pH of 6.9-7.5, and an electrical conductivity of 80μs/cm. The sum of the concentration of metal ions （Ru^3＋, Al^3＋, Pb^2＋） was 0.028% and that of nonmetal ions （Cl^-, SO4^2-） was 0.05%. In the O2 regeneration unit, the O2 generation rate was 0.48 m^3/d and the quantity was 2400 L, sufficient to meet the submariners＇ basic oxygen demands. These results may be useful as a basis for establishing CO2-1evel limits and O2 regeneration systems in submarines or similar enclosed compartments during prolonged voyages.

Recovery of waste heat in cement plants for the capture of CO2

Large amounts of energy are consumed during the manufacturing of cement especially during the calcination process which also emits large amounts of CO2. A large part of the energy used in the making of cement is released as waste heat. A process to capture CO2 by integrating the recovery and utilization of waste heat has been designed. Aspen Plus software was used to calculate the amount of waste heat and the efficiency of energy utilization. The data used in this study was based on a dry process cement plant with a 5-stage preheater and a precalciner with a cement output of 1 Mt/y. According to the calculations： 1） the generating capacity of the waste heat recovery system is 4.9MW. 2） The overall CO2 removal rate was as high as 78.5%. 3） The efficiency of energy utilization increased after the cement producing process was retrofitted with this integrated design.