Experimental and modeling using a generalized Patel-Teja-Valderrama equation of state for computation of mono ethanol amine (MEA) solution density in a CO2 capturing pilot plant

Abstract

In this work, to obtain optimal process conditions in a CO2 capturing plant, novel equipment modifications are made to achieve the desired product specification in the small and large pilot plants with low and high pressures. For this purpose, results from two different CO2 capturing pilot plants are compared at different process variables, using the different concentration of aqueous MEA (25, 28, 30, 33) wt.% and within the temperature range of 50 ~ 77°C in the absorber and 100 ~120°C in desorber. We used the generalized Patel-Teja-Valderrama (PTV) EoS, Peng-Robinson (PR) EoS, and Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) equation of state through a MATLAB code and Aspen Plus default with the NRTL model. Moreover, critical properties for MEA solutions are estimated based on Valderrama et al. approach. The correlation relation of the PTV EoS was used for the calculation of MEA liquid density data for rich and lean Mono-Ethanol Amine (MEA) solution in the CO2 capturing pilot plants. Comprehensive studies were carried out to investigate the validity of the present predictions provided by the experimental results' implementation. Finally, with proper process modification, the predicted liquid density values by Patel-Teja-Valderrama (PTV) EoS were achieved with an average absolute deviation (AAD %) of about 0.12 ~ 0.23 in different temperature profiles in absorber section and 0.14 ~ 0.26 in desorber section for both pilot plants. In the present work, the results of Patel-Teja-Valderrama EoS in the present simulation model were in good agreement with the experimental data.