Experimental Studies and Rate-Based Process Simulations of CO2 Absorption with Aqueous Ammonia Solutions

A pilot plant at laboratory scale for absorption of CO2 has been constructed and operated to test the CO2 removal by aqueous ammonia solutions. The design of the pilot plant is based on a standard absorption and desorption flow sheet and partial or complete separation of gas mixtures. Pilot plant data for CO2 removal efficiencies, effects of CO2 loading, and temperature profiles are obtained. A rate-based model, RateFrac in Aspen Plus simulator, is used to simulate the CO2 absorption of the pilot plant. The simulation results of the CO2 capture predicted by the rate-based model are in good agreement with the experimental data of the pilot plant. Further, the optimization covering operational parameters is carried out using the rate-based model.