Performance assessment of novel catalytic spouted-bed vapor jet flow heat exchanger in amine-based carbon capture process

Abstract

This study introduced a spouted bed and jet flow catalytic heat exchanger (SBJ-EX). This novel non-agitated technology can potentially integrate with a conventional desorption column to enhance heat transfer and CO2 desorption performance in amine-based post-combustion carbon capture systems. As its first research in the carbon capture field, this work experimentally evaluated key factors including overall heat transfer coefficient, logarithmic mean temperature difference, temperature distribution along the reactor, and cyclic loading under varied parameters such as inlet temperature of the heating oil, inlet solvent temperature, rich CO2 loadings, and mass of catalysts to simulate real-world operating conditions using benchmark MEA solvent and solid acid catalyst HZSM-5. Compared to conventional plate heat exchangers, the SBJ-EX demonstrated over a 70 % enhancement in heat transfer performance due to its effective overall heat transfer coefficient. It also exhibited impressive CO2 desorption performance even at lower temperatures with sufficient catalysts. Unlike agitated-type heat exchangers, the SBJ-EX could minimize catalyst attrition and offer more excellent stability. In contrast to fixed-bed catalyst desorbed columns, this equipment offered a more compact design for quicker and simpler catalyst replacement to reduce downtime for operators significantly. The SBJ-EX can also function as an optional backup or add-on unit to provide operators with flexibility. This work further discussed advantages and challenges of the SBJ-EX operation. This work enriched the future research outlook for this technology, and contributed a commercially viable approach to catalysts in carbon capture processes.