Initial operation of a continuous lab-scale MBTSA pilot using activated carbon adsorbent

Abstract

A lab-scale moving-bed temperature-swing adsorption (MBTSA) pilot has been designed and constructed. The pilot has primarily been designed for the evaluation of various adsorbent materials at realistic conditions where gas composition and steam content of the inlet gas can be varied. The desorption compartment consists of a modular heat exchanger where a hot fluid is used to heat the adsorbent indirectly. Initial experiments using a commercial activated carbon adsorbent show that capture rates above 95% can easily be achieved. However, obtaining high CO2 purity of the gas released from the regenerator will need proper balancing of the under-pressure used to pull out the CO2. In addition, properly balanced recycling of N2 rich gas entering at the top of the regenerator and CO2 rich gas from the top of the cooling section back to the adsorber inlet will be important