Miniaturizing amine-based carbon capture with heat-pipe intercooled rotating packed beds

Rotating packed beds (RPB) reduce the size of amine solvent-based carbon capture processes. By replacing the effect of gravity in conventional columns with centrifugal force in RPBs, transport processes are faster and equipment size can be reduced by an order of magnitude. We have made substantial progress in this field since our previous report at GHGT [1]. With current scale-up testing the technology at industrial pilot scales, successfully achieving 90% capture at ca. 1 ton/day scale, and on-track for full-scale commercialisation in 2023 [2]. The role of RPBs will be in medium-scale CCS, such as industrial sources (non-power). Intercooling the RPB will allow the use of high solvent concentrations, unlocking the potential for a further halving in equipment size, and reductions in reboiler duty. This work presents recent results in heat-pipe intercooling of rotating packed beds. Experimental pilot-scale results of a prototype intercooled rotor are presented. These demonstrate mass transfer coefficients can be increased by over 70% using the prototype rotor. Intercooling has the potential to further improve the lead RPBs have over conventional technology in amine-based carbon capture processes