Equilibrium Analysis of Cyclic Adsorption Processes: CO2 Working Capacities with NaY

Abstract

The most common application of adsorption is via pressure swing adsorption. In this type of design, the feed and regeneration temperatures are kept approximately equal, whereas the feed pressure is higher than the regeneration pressure. By exploiting the difference in the amount adsorbed at a higher pressure to the amount adsorbed at a lower pressure, a working capacity is realized. Therefore, by examining the expected (ideal) working capacity of an adsorbent, a performance characteristic can be analyzed for a pressure swing adsorption process (PSA). For this work, feed pressures up to 2.0 atm CO2 and feed temperatures from 20°C to 200°C were investigated. These limits were chosen due to the nature of the target process: CO2 removal from flue gas. Carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms were determined in a constant volume system at 23°C, 45°C, 65°C, 104°C, 146°C, and 198°C, for pressures between 0.001 and 2.5 atm CO2 with NaY zeolite. These data were fit with the temperature dependent form of the Toth isotherm. Henry's Law constants and the heat of adsorption at the limit of zero coverage were also determined using the concentration pulse method. Comparison of the Henry's Law constants derived from the Toth isotherm, and those obtained with the concentration pulse method provided excellent agreement. By using the Toth isotherm, expected working capacity contour plots were constructed for PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption), TSA (Temperature Swing Adsorption), and PTSA (Pressure Temperature Swing Adsorption) cycles. The largest expected working capacities were obtained when the bed was operated under a high‐pressure gradient PSA cycle, or a high thermal and pressure gradient PTSA cycle. The results also showed that certain TSA and PSA cycle conditions would result with higher expected working capacities as the feed temperature increases.