Impact of solvent properties on post-combustion carbon capture processes: A vapor–liquid equilibrium modelling approach

Abstract

This paper deals with the effect of solvent vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) properties on the heat duty in a post-combustion CO2 capture process. The conceptual solvent properties include the absorption heat, absorption performance and cyclic capacity, modeled by a three-parameter VLE equation. There are four processes considered. A conventional process serves as a reference case. An ideal process is used to study the energy saving potential. As typical process improvements, an intercooling and a rich split process are used to analyze the heat duty reduction effect. The optimal solvent in each process is obtained by minimizing the total heat duty. By the sensitive analysis, the solvent with less favorable VLE properties owns a larger energy saving potential and energy saving effect. Results show that the rich split is a more energy-efficient process improvement method than the intercooling configuration for the typical amine solvents.