Capture of CO2 from Steam Reformer Flue Gases Using Monoethanolamine: Pilot Plant Validation and Process Design for Partial Capture

Journal article, 2022

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from a slipstream of steam reformer flue gas (18–20 vol %wet CO2) using 30 wt % aqueous monoethanolamine was performed for ∼500 h in a mobile test unit (∼120 kg CO2/h). Specific reboiler duties (SRDs) of 3.6–3.8 MJ/kg CO2 were achieved at 90% capture. The pilot data validate the modeling of off-design partial capture, that is, operation at lower CO2 capture rates (at constant gas flow) than the absorption column was designed to achieve. This paper demonstrates that off-design partial capture enables significant energy savings (SRD, cooling) relative to on-design capture. The accrued savings depend on the column design (packing height, flooding approach) and the feed CO2 concentration. Finally, a concept for stepwise deployment of carbon capture and storage in industries with high-CO2 concentration sources (e.g., steel and cement manufacturing and refining) is introduced. Thanks to its inherent full-capture-ready design, the initial energy-efficient, off-design partial capture operation can be extended to full capture over time.