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The role of water on postcombustion CO 2 capture by vacuum swing adsorption: Bed layering and purge to feed ratio
Author(s) -
Li Gang,
Xiao Penny,
Zhang Jun,
Webley Paul A.,
Xu Dong
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.14281
Subject(s) - purge , layering , adsorption , zeolite , chemistry , penetration (warfare) , water vapor , swing , vacuum swing adsorption , chemical engineering , chromatography , waste management , pressure swing adsorption , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering , mechanical engineering , botany , operations research , biology
The influence of water vapor on the adsorption of CO 2 in carbon capture by vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) was described. VSA experiments with single and multilayered columns using alumina and zeolite 13X were conducted to understand the migration of water. The penetration depth of water in the column could be controlled by maintaining the purge‐to‐feed ratio above a critical value. At high water content in the feed (>4%), employment of a water adsorbing prelayer was essential to prevent failure of the carbon capture process. A simple axial working capacity model predicts the penetration depth of water in the column for a given feed temperature and adsorption isotherm, and the layering ratio can be selected accordingly. Although water is detrimental to CO 2 capture with polar adsorbents, long‐term recovery of CO 2 is still possible by appropriate layering and ensuring an adequate purge‐to‐feed ratio. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 60: 673–689, 2014