Comparison of simulation tools to fit and predict performance data of CO2 absorption into monoethanol amine at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM)

Abstract

n this work, several sets of experimental data from the amine based CO2 capture process at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) have been compared with simulations of different equilibrium based models and a rate-based model. The equilibrium models (in Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS) were fitted by adjusting the Murphree efficiency for each stage and the rate-based model (in Aspen Plus) was fitted by adjusting the interfacial area factor. Aspen Plus (using the Electrolyte-NRTL model) and Aspen HYSYS (using Kent-Eisenberg and Li-Mather models) gave almost identical results for the capture rate and small deviations for the temperature profiles. There are however deviations both between the measured temperatures at a specified column height and between measured temperatures and the simulated temperatures. Equilibrium based models are less fundamental than rate-based models, but for the conditions in this study, the rate-based models still lack accurate input parameters like the interfacial area. The results from this study show that equilibrium and rate-based models perform equally well in both fitting performance data and in predicting performance at changed conditions.

Comparison of simulation tools to fit and predict performance data of CO2 absorption into monoethanol amine at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM)