CO2 Capture from Synthesis Gas at

Low Pressure for IGCC Using DEPG

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Contents
Abstract..................................................................................................... 1
1 Background .......................................................................................... 2
2 Process Description ................................................................................ 2
3 Model Description .................................................................................. 3
4 Simulation results .................................................................................. 4
5 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 6

Abstract
This Aspen HYSYS example models CO2 capture from syngas for IGCC at the rate of
1 Million ton/year by using Dimethyl Ether of Polyethylene Glycol (DEPG).

The properties are modeled with the Perturbed Chain Statistical Association Fluid
Theory (PC-SAFT) Equation of State, and the absorber is simulated with the rate-
based distillation model, column analysis is used to evaluate the hydraulics for
column geometries and internals, the capital and operating costs of the capture
process are estimated with Economic Analysis, and finally, the process CO2 emissions
are reported.

It can be used as a starting point for more complex model development, integration,
debottlenecking and optimization.

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1 Background
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) refers to a suite of technologies that
can play an important role in meeting energy and climate goals, it involves the
capture of CO2 from large point sources including power generation or industrial
facilities, the captured CO2 is then compressed and transported to be used in a range
of applications or injected into deep geological formations which trap the CO2 for
permanent storage.

The more stringent climate targets triggered by the greater ambition of the 2015
Paris Agreement and the 2018 IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C have spurred greater
interest in CCUS [1]. In the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario, global CO2
emissions from the energy sector should decline to net zero by 2070, and the initial
focus of CCUS will be on retrofitting existing fossil fuel-based power and industrial
plants to tackle emissions and supporting low-carbon hydrogen production.

The next decade will be critical for the deployment of CCUS. The amount of CO 2
captured will grow by a factor of 20 from around 40 Mt today (2020) to over 800 Mt
in 2030, an annual average of around 20 coal power plants will be retrofitted with
capture equipment between 2025 and 2030, and 18 Mt of hydrogen will be produced
from CCUS-equipped facilities [1].

CO2 absorption using physical solvents is a mature CO2 separation technique, which
is currently used in gas processing and methanol, ethanol and hydrogen production.
While this capture technology is being actively investigated for commercial
implementation, it is necessary to further reduce the costs, scale up and optimize the
process to improve the overall process economics and operability.

Rigorous models are necessary for the design, scale up, integration, optimization and
operation of CO2 capture. This Aspen HYSYS example demonstrates how to model
CO2 capture by using Dimethyl Ether of Polyethylene Glycol (DEPG) at the rate of 1
million metric ton/year from the syngas for IGCC.

2 Process Description
This example is based on a case in Gasification Combined Cycle: Carbon Dioxide
Recovery, Transport, and Disposal [1]. The dry syngas, which consists of CO2, CO, H2,
N2, Ar, CH4, NH3, H2S and HCl, is saturated with water, and then sent to the absorber
column to remove CO2.

The absorber column has packing inside it and is divided into 30 stages in the
simulation. The synthesis gas enters the column at the bottom and the lean DEPG
solvent enter the column on stage 1. CO2 is absorbed by the solvent in the column.
Clean gas comes out from top of the absorber and the rich solvent leaves absorber
from the bottom and is sent to a valve.

After the valve rich DEPG pressure reduced from 245 psia to 100 psia. The pressure
is selected to avoid release of CO2 while allowing some recovery of work of

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pressurization. CO, H2, N2, CH4 and CO2 are release from Slump Tank and returned
to absorber. The rich solvent then goes through a valve and 3 flash tanks to release
CO2 from the DEPG solvent by reducing pressure to 4 psia. The regenerated lean
DEPG solvent is pumped back to the absorber.

Figure 1: CO2 capture using DEPG flowsheet in HYSYS

3 Model Description
The model includes the following key features:

 PC-SAFT EOS for the properties

 Rate-based model for distillation column simulation

 Column Analysis for distillation column design and rating

 Economic Analysis for capital and operating costs

 Process CO2 emissions

First, the Perturbed Chain Statistical Association Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) Equation of
State is used for DEPG, the pure and binary parameters in the model have been
regressed or validated against the available experimental data (e.g. vapor pressure,
density, heat capacity and VLE).

The absorber is simulated with the rate-based model, which utilizes the mass heat-
transfer correlations based on transfer properties and tray/packing geometry,
assuming that separation is caused by mass transfer between the contacting phases.
This makes it more accurate over a wider range of operating conditions, as the
equilibrium-stage model requires empirical adjustments for accurate simulation.

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Furthermore, the column hydraulics is evaluated with Column Analysis for column
design (e.g. column geometry and internals).

Based on the process simulation, the CAPEX and OPEX are estimated with Activated
Economic Analysis, and the CO2 emissions of the process are reported. Reviewing the
costs and emissions reports can help to see where the process can be optimized and
provide more information for decision-making.

4 Simulation results
The key simulation results of the absorber are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Simulation results of absorber

Lean Solvent Sour Gas Recycled Gas Sweet Gas Rich Solvent
Vapour fraction 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00
Temperature [F] 30.00 68.13 46.07 29.95 40.65
Pressure [psia] 250.00 248.00 250.00 245.00 245.00
Molar Flow [lbmole/hr] 3.08e4 2.31e4 3.21e2 1.76e4 3.67e4
Mass Flow [lb/hr] 8.49e6 5.47e5 1.00e4 3.06e5 8.74e6
Composition [mole fraction]
DEPG 0.9816 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.8245
CO 0.0000 0.0044 0.0047 0.0057 0.0001
CO2 0.0179 0.2471 0.4670 0.0187 0.1661
Hydrogen 0.0000 0.3183 0.1574 0.4180 0.0017
H2O 0.0000 0.0033 0.0000 0.0000 0.0021
Nitrogen 0.0000 0.4144 0.3522 0.5419 0.0046
Argon 0.0000 0.0050 0.0057 0.0065 0.0001
Methane 0.0000 0.0073 0.0129 0.0091 0.0003
Ammonia 0.0004 0.0002 0.0001 0.0000 0.0005
H2S 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
HCl 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000

The specifications of the column geometries and internal types are summarized in
Table 2 and the hydraulic plot is shown in Figures 2.

Table 2: Specs of column geometries and internal types

Absorber

Start stage - End Stage 1 - 30

Section Height, ft 180

Diameter, ft 18

Packing type MELLPAK 250X

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 Figure 2: Hydraulic plots of absorber

In addition, the results for Activated Economic Analysis are estimated based on V12.0
database and shown in Error! Reference source not found..

Figure 3: Economic analysis of the process

Aspen HYSYS supports 2 well known standards for Global Warming Potential, EU-
2007/589/EC (European Commission Decision 2007/589/EC) and US-EPA Rule E9-
5711 (United States Environmental Protection Agency Rule E9-5711). User can click

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the Utility Manager icon (accessed using the Home ribbon), then click the Green
House Gas Emission Preference icon and check the Calculate CO2 Emissions
check box to enable carbon tracking, user can also click the Carbon Fee Preference
icon and then specify Carbon Fee / Carbon Tax. The carbon price is $51/tonne in
this estimation.

Finally, the process CO2 emissions, including both material streams and utilities, are
reported on the Flowsheet Summary (accessed using the Home ribbon) and shown
in Error! Reference source not found..

Table 3: Results of CO2 emissions

Source Feed Product Utility Net CO2

emission
Stream Dry Feed Sweet Flash Flash Flash Gas 3
Gas Gas Gas 1 Gas 2
CO2 emission, 1.23e6 2.73e5 4.82e5 2.20e5 2.52e5 1.22e4 -9.42e5
tonne/year
Carbon fee, k$/year 6.26e4 1.39e4 2.46e4 1.12e4 1.29e4 6.23e2 -4.80e4

* Stream Flash Gas1, Flash Gas2 and Flash Gas3 represents that about 1M tonne/y
CO2 is captured in the process, so the net CO2 emission is negative.

5 Conclusion
CO2 absorption using physical solvents is an important technology to mitigate CO2
emissions and meet the climate goals. It is necessary to further reduce energy
penalty, scale up, integrate and optimize the capture process. Rigorous models are
critical for process modeling and optimization. This example shows how to model
CO2 capture using DEPG with Aspen HYSYS. PC-SAFT EOS is used for the
properties, the distillation column is simulated with rigorous rate-based distillation
model, Column Analysis is used to evaluate the design of column (e.g. column
geometry and internals), the costs of process are estimate with Economic Analysis
and process CO2 emissions are also reported. This example can be used as a start
point for more sophisticated process development, integration and optimization.

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References

[1] IEA flagship report, CCUS in Clean Energy Transitions, 2020,

https://www.iea.org/reports/ccus-in-clean-energy-transitions
[2] R.D. Doctor, J.C. Molburg, P.R. Thimmapuram, G.F. Berry, C.D. Livengood,
“Gasification Combined Cycle: Carbon Dioxide Recovery, Transport, and
Disposal”, Energy System Divison, Argonne National Laboratory (1994)