Concentrating High Purity CO2 from Syngas after Oxy-fuel Combustion by Pressure Swing Adsorption Process

Abstract

Abstract This research experimentally studied the concentration of high purity CO2 from syngas after oxy-fuel combustion by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process, so that the purified CO2 can be captured and utilized/stored to reduce greenhouse gas emission. First, UOP 13X was used as adsorbent in this study due to its high adsorption amount and the selectivity of CO2 to N2 usually increasing with temperature. Then breakthrough curves and desorption curves were discussed by changing the feed flow rate and feed composition and were verified with a simulation program. Finally, carbon dioxide was purified by a single-bed four-step pressure swing adsorption process. The feed gas of PSA process was 95% CO2 / 5% N2, simulating syngas after oxy-fuel combustion. Variables such as vacuum pressure, adsorption time, cocurrent depressurization time and countercurrent depressurization time were discussed to find their effects on CO2 recovery and purity in order to study the optimal operating conditions for obtaining high purity CO2.