(381h) Detailed Model Validation of a Simplified Model for Adsorption Processes for Flue Gas CO2 Capture

Rapid optimization and study of various pressure swing adsorption (PSA) cycles becomes increasingly complex as new stages are added to improve purity, recovery, and energy consumption among other key performance indicators (KPI). Detailed models used to predict PSA performance are composed of coupled partial differential and nonlinear equations and are often time consuming to solve and involve many process variables. To reduce computation time and the number of process parameters, while still maintaining a reasonable representation of PSA cycles, the extended Batch Adsorber Analogue Model (e-BAAM) has been developed. This work validates the performance predictions made by the e-BAAM for a variety of PSA cycle configurations, including a 6-step and 8-step cycle with light product pressurization and pressure equalization steps. Commercial gPROMs software was used to model the cycles and predict purity, recovery, and energy consumption values. The values were compared to the e-BAAM to determine the viability of using the e-BAAM as a rapid proxy for more expensive models. The e-BAAM was able to predict trends in CO₂ purity, recovery, and energy consumption and provide a qualitative understanding of differences in process configurations when compared to results generated through detailed simulations.

[1] V. Subramanian Balashankar, A. K. Rajagopalan, R. de Pauw, A. M. Avila, and A. Rajendran, “Analysis of a batch adsorber analogue for rapid screening of adsorbents for postcombustion CO2 capture,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., vol. 58, no. 8, pp. 3314–3328, Feb. 27, 2019.