Pilot test of CO2 capture performance of aqueous MEA in packed columns with CY-700 structured packing

In order to improve the mass transfer performance of packed column and investigate comparatively different absorbents, a monoethanolamine (MEA)-based lab pilot plant with CO2 absorption and desorption packed columns with CY-700 structured packings was built. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KGav) and CO2 capture rate of monoethanolamine (MEA) aqueous solution absorbing CO2 under different operating conditiions were investigated, and the regeneration energy consumption was also evaluated. The results show that KGav increases with the increasing liquid flow rate and decreases with the increase of lean CO2 loading and CO2 partial pressure. However, the increasing gas flow rate has negative effect on KGav. Liquid-to-gas ratios and reflux rate of condensate back to the desorber have significant effect on the working cyclic capacity and regeneration energy. Specifically, under the conditions with CO2 capture rate ≥90%, 5 L/h liquid flow rate and 0.48 m3/h gas flow rate, the regeneration energy and the cyclic capacity were about 85 MJ/kg CO2 and 0.67 mol/kg respectively. The findings verify the stability and repeatability of the CO2 capture pilot plant, and the good mass transfer performance of CY-700 packing, which also provide important comparative reference data of the baseline solvent for comparison with novel water-lean amine-based absorbents in the next step of work