Energy‐saving process configurations for monoethanolamine‐based CO<sub>2</sub> capture system
Foster Kofi Ayittey, Agus Saptoro, Perumal Kumar, Mee Kee Wong
Abstract
Abstract It is evident from several researches that combining a couple of process modifications is effective in reducing reboiler duty in the chemical absorption‐based carbon capture process. Although extensive works on these combined modifications exist in literature, studies on combined lean vapour compression (LVC) and rich solvent preheating (RSP) are unavailable, despite their potentials as promising energy‐saving technologies. This simulation‐based study therefore explored standalone and combined process modifications capable of minimizing reboiler duty in monoethanolamine (MEA)‐based postcombustion CO 2 capture system. Using the electrolyte nonrandom two‐liquid (ELECNRTL) property method in Aspen Plus®, a rigorous rate‐based simulation was performed and validated for conventional MEA‐based capture system. Subsequently, three main process modifications, namely, LVC, RSP and combined LVC and RSP, were investigated to evaluate their impact on energy consumption level in the stripping column. The modifications were able to reduce the total equivalent electrical penalty on the power plant by 12.94%, 5.24% and 14.48%, respectively. The results from this study demonstrate that a detailed optimization of the combined LVC and RSP process configuration could achieve considerable energy saving in MEA‐based capture systems.