Orthogonal test design to optimize the operating parameters of a hybrid solvent MEA–Methanol in an absorber column packed with three different packing: Sulzer BX500, Mellapale Y500 and Pall rings 16 × 16 for post-combustion CO2 capture

Abstract

Effects of three important operating conditions (liquid flow rate, gas flow rate and regeneration temperature) on the CO2 capture and mass transfer performance of the absorption of CO2 into a hybrid solvent MEA–Methanol were studied in a pilot-plant absorber packed with three different packings consisting of Sulzer BX500, Mellapale Y500 and Pall rings 16 × 16 through orthogonal tests. CO2 absorption experiment was conducted under the optimal operating parameters of three packings achieved from the orthogonal experiments (liquid flow rate 30l/h, flue gas flow rate 3m3/h and regeneration temperature 74°C for Mellapale packing 500Y, liquid flow rate 40l/h, flue gas flow rate 3m3/h and regeneration temperature 74°C for Pall rings packing 16 × 16 and liquid flow rate 40l/h, flue gas flow rate 5m3/h and regeneration temperature 74°C for Sulzer packing BX500). The results showed that regeneration temperature was the most important factor affecting the CO2 capture efficiency and gas flow rate had little effect on the CO2 capture efficiency. In addition, the optimal operating conditions of the three packings were achieved in this study and Sulzer BX500 packing had the best mass transfer performance.