Mass Balances on CO2 Absorption/Stripping Process

Module 1: Material Balances on Absorption/Stripping Process

Module Author: Nick Schroeder & Jason M. Keith
Author Affiliation: Michigan Technological Universit
Course: Material and !nerg Balances
Concepts Illustrated: Mole balances
Tet !eferenced: "elder and #o$ssea$
Proble" Moti#ation: !arth%s at&osphere is co&posed o' a variet o' che&ical co&po$nds that
act as greenho$se gases. T(o general tpes o' greenho$se gases are those that nat$rall occ$r
and those snthesi)ed b h$&ans. Nat$rall occ$rring gases incl$de &ethane* nitro$s o+ide*
(ater vapor* and carbon dio+ide (hile gases $sed 'or aerosols are h$&an &ade. Thro$gh these
gases s$nlight passes $ndist$rbed and enters o$r at&osphere 'reel. The s$nlight than re'lects o''
o' the earth%s s$r'ace back to(ards space in the 'or& o' in'rared radiation. This in'rared radiation
,heat- is than trapped (hen absorbed b greenho$se gases. "or earth to &aintain consistent
te&perat$res* a ccle involving the ree&ission o' energ to space and the absorption o' light
radiated b the s$n &$st be &aintained ./0.
1arbon dio+ide ,123- is o' pri&ar concern d$e to gro(ing global e&issions in recent histor.
Since the e+pansion o' coal $se d$ring the ind$strial revol$tion and the e+pansion o' petrole$&
$se d$ring the 34
th
cent$r* 123 e&issions have risen steadil. This creates an increasing
dependenc on 'ossil '$els to &aintain societ%s standard o' living (hich creates proble&s. The
co&b$stion o' carbon5based 'ossil '$els over the last co$ple h$ndred ears has created a
signi'icant increase in at&ospheric 123 concentrations. 123 concentrations are reg$lated b a
n$&ber o' processes (hich collectivel are kno(n as the 6carbon ccle7* ho(ever* this ccle
onl has the capacit to absorb a portion o' total e&issions (hich creates a positive i&balance.
This increase in 123 concentrations e''ectivel increases global s$r'ace te&perat$res b
preventing the ree&ission o' in'rared radiation back into space* a concept kno(n as cli&ate
change .30. #ecent data collected in the So$th Pole sho(ed that the average ann$al at&ospheric
123 concentrations increased 34.89 'ro& /:;8 to 344< .=0. The dangers associated (ith cli&ate
change are that no one kno(s ho( the !arth (ill respond to the changes. >ncreased te&perat$res
have the abilit to a''ect the (eather* sea levels* and land $se patterns.
?ith gro(ing pop$lations and ind$striali)ation o' co$ntries the (orld energ $se is steadil
increasing (hich has created an increase in dependenc on 'ossil '$els. This dependenc is d$e
to 8@.39 o' (orld energ prod$ced being obtained 'ro& 'ossil '$els* altho$gh rene(able energ
so$rces s$ch as n$clear* hdroelectric* and other rene(able are &aking &aAor i&prove&ents [4].
Petrole$&* nat$ral gas* and coal all e&it 123B ho(ever* the do not contrib$te eC$al e&issions
on an energ basis. 1oal has higher contrib$tion to 123 e&issions than its energ contrib$tion.
Petrole$& (hich sho(s slightl higher 123 e&issions than coal is pri&aril $sed 'or
transportation '$el (hich res$lts in a large n$&ber o' s&all 123 e&ission so$rces. 1oal* (hich is
$sed 'or electricit generation* creates a $niC$e scenario d$e to coal5'ired po(er plants being a
large 123 e&itter and having relativel 'e( point so$rces. These point so$rces e&it large
C$antities o' 123* (hich provides an opport$nit to capt$re 123 be'ore it enters the at&osphere.
!&issions 'ro& coal 'ired po(er plants can be capt$red b an absorption/stripping process (ith a
circ$lating che&ical solvent as sho(n in "ig$re /.
$igure 1: Tpical absorber/stripper 'lo( sheet 'or 123 capt$re
The absorption/stripping sste& can be placed at the end o' ne( or e+isting coal 'ired po(er
plants (ith N2+ and S2+ controls. A&ine solvents are $sed since the react (ith 123 $nder
certain conditions. A lean solvent ,lo( 123 concentration- is 'ed into the top o' the absorber. The
solvent is co$nter c$rrentl contacted b 'l$e gas containing 123. The 123 che&icall reacts
(ith the a&ine solvent and the treated gas e+its the top o' the absorber. This rich a&ine ,high
123 concentrations- leaves the botto& o' the absorber and is preheated b a cross e+changer
be'ore entering the top o' the stripper. >n the stripper* tpicall at a higher te&perat$re and
press$re than the absorber* the reaction bet(een the a&ine and 123 is reversed (hich liberates
123 into a concentrated strea& obtained at the top o' the stripper. The lean solvent 'ro& the
stripper $ndergoes heat e+change and goes back to the absorber to repeat the process .;0.
Proble" Infor"ation
%a"ple Proble" State"ent: An absorption/stripping process is operating at constant
te&perat$re and press$re. This sste& is a proposed addition to a coal 'ired po(er plant in an
atte&pt to &ini&i)e the a&o$nt o' 123 released b the po(er plant.
a. Deter&ine the &olar 'lo( rates o' the treated gas and the concentrated gasB nTE & ncc
respectivel. Use the ideal gas la(* PV=nRT.
b. The lean a&ine $sed in this process is &onoethanola&ine ,M!A-B calc$late the &olar
'lo( rate o' the a&ine r$nning co$nter c$rrentl to 'l$e gas entering the absorbance
col$&n.
c. Use parts a&b to calc$late the loading o' the absorption col$&nB Absorber loading F
,&ol 123/&ol M!A-.
d. 1alc$late the percent recover o' 123 'or the absorption/stripping process.
Additional Infor"ation:
&as Strea"s
Strea& Gariable
Act$al Gol$&etric
"lo( rate ,&
=
/&in- .1230 T ,K- P ,at&-
"l$e Eas n'eed /H./@ /3.= 9 =3H.3; /.44;H
Treated Eas nTE I 3.<@ 9 =3H.3; /.44;H
1oncentrated 123 ncc I /44 9 =3H.3; /.44;H
'i(uid Strea"
JiC$id A&ine Densit ,lb&/gal- "lo( rate ,gal/&in- MM!A ,g/&ol- .M!A0
M!A 8.@: <.8 @/ =3.;49
Part a) Calculating the "olar flo* rate of nT& and ncc
Step /5 Using the ideal gas la( (e can calc$late the &olar 'lo( rate o' the entering 'l$e gas
,"eed- b solving the eC$ation in ter&s o' &oles. "ro& the in'or&ation provided (e kno( that
PF/.44;H & TF=3H.3; K. This allo(s 'or $s to solve the &olar 'lo( rate o' the 'l$e gas ,"eed-.
, - , -
PV
PV nRT n
RT
= =
=
'eed
,/.44;Hat&-,/H./@+/4 J/&in- &ol
n F ;=;.3
J at&
&in
,4.4834; -,=3H.3;K-
&ol K
=

Step 35 Using the &olar 'lo( rate o' the 'l$e gas (e can calc$late the total &olar 'lo( rate o' the
123 it contains. This is done b si&pl &$ltipling the &olar co&position 'raction b the 'l$e
gas ,"eed-.
3
9 /3.=49 CO =
,"eed Strea&-
3
12 3 3
'eed 'eed
/3.=4&ol 12 &ol 12
n Fn F @;.8=
/44&ol 'eed &in



Step =5 "ro& this (e can calc$late the total 'lo( rate o' the other gases ,2.E.- in the 'eed strea&
(hich are not absorbed b the liC$id a&ine. This is done b s$btracting the total 123 in the 'l$e
gas 'ro& the total &olar 'lo( rate o' the 'l$e gas. ,2.E. F other gases-
3
12 2.E.
'eed 'eed 'eed
n Fn 5n
2.E.
'eed
&ol &ol &ol
n F;=;.3 5@;.8= F H@:.H
&in &in &in
Step H5 Since (e kno( that the other gases ,2.E.- in the 'l$e gas do not react (ith the liC$id
a&ine* than (e can $se this in'or&ation to calc$late the 'lo( rate o' the treated gases.
"irst (e kno( the concentration o' the 123 in the treated gas and there'ore (e can calc$late the
concentration o' the other gases ,2.E.- in the treated gas strea&. This is done b s$btracting the
123 'ro& /449 since these are the strea&s onl t(o co&ponents.
Since*
3
912 3.<@9 =
,nTE-
The
92.E. ,/449 3.<@9- :<.3H9 = =
This &eans that the strea& nTE is :<.3H9 other gases beside 123. There'ore (e can calc$late the
total 'lo( rate o' nTE b dividing the &olar 'lo( rate o' the other gases ,2.E.- b the &olar
co&position 'raction.
TE TE
2.E.
n n
:<.3H&ol 2.E.
n n K
/44&ol 'eed
=
TE
TE
2.E.
n
n
n
n F
4.:<3H
TE
n
&ol
n F H83.<
&in
Since the &olar 'lo( rate o' ncc is eC$ivalent to the &olar 'lo( rate o' the 123 in this strea& d$e
to /449 co&position* (e can calc$late the 'lo( rate o' ncc si&pl b 'inding ho( &$ch 123 (as
absorbed into the liC$id a&ine strea& be'ore escaping in nTE. "or o$r sake* (e (ill ass$&e that
there is /449 123 stripped 'ro& the liC$id a&ine in the stripper col$&n and this e+its in the
concentrated 123 strea&.
3
cc cc
12
n n
n Fn
Since*
3 3 3
cc TE
12 12 12
n 'eed n
n Fn 5n
The ncc 'lo( rate eC$als*
3 3
cc TE
12 12
n 'eed n
n n n =
cc
2.E. 3
n
&ol &ol 12 &ol
n F@;.8= 5 ,H83.< 5 H@:.H -
&in &in &in
cc
n
&ol
n ;3.;=
&in
=
Part b) Calculating the "olar flo* rate of the "onoethanola"ine +M%A,
Step /5 No( (e (ill calc$late the &olar 'lo( rate o' the &onoethanola&ine ,M!A-. ?e kno(
the densit o' the JiC$id a&ine and the vol$&etric 'lo( rate. "ro& this (e can calc$late the
&ass 'lo( rate o' the strea& b &$ltipling these t(o val$es together.
Mass 'lo(5rate o' JiC$id A&ine
& &
J.A.
lb lb gal
& <.84 8.@: @<.<8
&in gal &in
= =
= &
J.A.
&
lb H;H.;:gra&s gra&s
& @<.<8 =4.<H+/4
&in /lb &in
= =
Step 35 Using the &ass 'lo( rate o' the liC$id a&ine (e can calc$late the &ass 'lo( rate o' the
M!A b &$ltipling the &ass 'lo( rate b the &olar co&position 'raction o' M!A.
= = M!A M!A
M!A
"eed
=3.; gra&s gra&s gra&s
& F=4.<H+/4 K F/4+/4
&in /44 gra&s &in
Step =5 "ro& there (e can divide the total &ass 'lo( rate o' the M!A b its &olar &ass to
calc$late the &olar 'lo( rate o' the &onoethanola&ine ,M!A-.
= M!A M!A M!A
M!A
M!A
gra&s /&ol &ol
n F/4+/4 K F/@=.:@
&in @/gra&s &in
Part c) Absorber 'oading of Monoethanola"ine
No( (e can $se the &olar 'lo( rate o' the 123 e+iting the stripper col$&nB beca$se this is the
val$e eC$ivalent to the total 123 absorbed b the stripper* and the total &olar 'lo( rate o' the
&onoethanola&ine to calc$late the loading o' the absorber col$&n. This is done si&pl b
dividing the &olar 'lo( rate o' the 123 b the total &olar 'lo( rate o' the M!A.
3
3
3
12
12
12 M3
M!A
M!A M!A
&ol
, -
&ol n
&in
Absorber JoadingF F F, -
&ol
n &ol
, -
&in
123
M!A
&ol
;3.;=
&in
Absorber JoadingF F 4.=3
&ol
/@=.:@
&in
Part d) Calculate the percent reco#er- of CO
2
for the absorption/stripping process
"or calc$lating the percent recover o' the 123 o$ need t(o o' the val$es previo$sl obtained
in this proble&. Divide the 123 contained in the concentrated strea& b the total 123
contained in the 'eed strea&.
3
3
12
cc
3 12
'eed
n ;3.;=
912 #ecoveredF L/44F L/44F <:.89
n @;.8=





.o"e Proble" State"ent:
An absorption/stripping process is operating at constant te&perat$re and at&ospheric press$re.
This sste& is a proposed addition to a coal 'ired po(er plant in an atte&pt to &ini&i)e the
a&o$nt o' 123 released b the po(er plant. The process has a :49 recover rate o' 123 and it
$tili)es a =3.; (eight9 &onoethanola&ine sol$tion as the lean a&ine absorbent in the sste&.
The absorption col$&n $sed in the process has a loading o' 4./<.
a. Deter&ine the vol$&etric 'lo( rate o' ncc ,concentrated 123-. (Hint: Use the ideal
gas law to calculate this value.)
b. 1alc$late the percent &oles o' 123 entering in the 'l$e gas.
c. 1alc$late the percent &oles o' 123 and vol$&etric 'lo( rate o' the treated gas leaving
the absorption/stripping process.
Additional Infor"ation:
&as Strea"
Strea&s Gariable
Act$al Gol$&etric
"lo(5rate ,&
=
/&in-
.1230 T,K- P,at&-
"l$e Eas
n'eed
33 I =3H.3; 3
Treated Eas
nTE
I I =3H.3; 3
1oncentrated 123
ncc
I I =3H.3; 3
'i(uid Strea"
JiC$id A&ine Densit ,lb&/gal- "lo( rate ,gal/&in- MM!A,g/&ol- .M!A0
M!A 8.@: /H.; @/ =3.;49
#e'erences
./0 Geenhouse Gases! Cli"ate Change! and #neg$. !nerg >n'or&ation Ad&inistration* 3 Apr.
344H. ?eb. =/ Mar. 34//. MhttpN//(((.eia.doe.gov/oia'//@4;/ggccebro/chapter/.ht&lO.
.30 PData.E>SSN E>SS S$r'ace Te&perat$re AnalsisN Analsis Eraphs and Plots.P %ational
&eonautics and '(ace &d"inistation. Eoddard >nstit$te 'or Space St$dies* /H Mar. 34//. ?eb.
33 Mar. 34//. MhttpN//data.giss.nasa.gov/giste&p/graphs/O.
.=0 Keeling* #. ".* S. 1. Piper* and A. ". Bollenbacher. At&ospheric 1arbon Dio+ide #ecord 'ro&
the So$th Pole. Ma 3448. #a( data. Universit o' 1ali'ornia* Ja Jolla* 1ali'ornia.
[4] United States. Energy Information Administration. Table 11.1 World Primary Energy
Production by Source, 1970-2007. Energy Information Administration, 9 Mar. 2010. Web. 31
Mar. 2011. <http://www.eia.doe.gov/totalenergy/data/annual/txt/ptb1101.html>.
.;0 D$gas* #obert !. PPilot Plant St$d o' 1arbon Dio+ide 1apt$re b AC$eo$s
Monoethanola&ine.P Thesis. The Universit o' Te+as at A$stin* 344@. Print.