Corrugated Screen Packing (CSP) for Improved Gas Liquid Absorption in Cocurrent Downflow Packed Columns Operating in a Pulse Flow Regime

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research 2020-06, Vol.59 (25), p.11767-11776
• Main Authors: Virla, Luis D, Mahmoudkhani, Maryam, Hargrove, Bill, Pellegrin, Roy, Adamson, Richard, Mahinpey, Nader
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Thermodynamics, Transport, and Fluid Mechanics
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c00844

This study evaluated for the first time the performance of CSP in a cocurrent downflow packed column operating at a pulsing flow regime. Packing performance was evaluated on a bench-scale absorber equipped with high-speed imaging and pressure gauges. Absorption experiments were conducted at 101.3 kPa using an 8 vol % CO2/air mixture and a 22 mol % MEA solution to determine the overall mass transfer coefficient, K OGa, and absorber height requirements. CSP was shown to be effective in facilitating pulsing at a lower pressure drop by enhancing liquid retention. Periodic pulses generated bubbles of 3–14 mm in diameter, interfacial areas of 200–1600 m2/m3, and K OGa 2–10 times larger than those reported for packed columns under trickle flow regime. CSP showed 2–4 times higher K OGa per unit of pressure drop compared to random packing. CSP performance represents an attractive opportunity to reduce capital (column size reduction and associated installation costs) and operating costs (lower pressure drop and pump energy) for carbon capture and chemical industry essential for the transition toward a low-carbon economy.