University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research

The goal of this project is to continue development of a novel process intensification device, acoustic driven packing material, which increasing mass transfer in a CO2 absorption column. This device transmits high frequency acoustic energy, at resonance, into the packing material of an absorber column which will cause that material to vibrate and become a transmitter of the incident acoustic energy. Solvent in contact with the vibrating packing material will oscillate at similar wave parameters to the source of acoustic energy. These high frequency traveling waves cause acoustic streaming and micro turbulence which increases the effective thin-film interfacial surface area and cause turbulence in the gas/liquid layer of a CO2 capture solvent, improving absorption rate. In laboratory testing this technology has been shown to provide up to a 20% relative increase in solvent absorption rate with 30 wt% monoethanolamine. Additionally, adding 1 wt% fine solids, . 40 ƒÊm, to the solvent along with acoustic-driven packing material increased absorption rate by up to 40%. Having demonstrated promising results in the proof of concept and laboratory testing phases, acoustic driven packing material has entered the relevant-environment and prototype phase of development. The first goal is constructing a functioning prototype with high reproducibility. This will require the integration of an acoustic driver and transducer the packing material of UKy- CAERfs 30 L/min CO2 capture bench unit. Our partners, MPI Ultrasonics, will be conducting finite element analysis on the structured packing material using COMSOL Multiphysics software to determine the optimal configuration. Testing will be done with 30 wt% MEA and UKy-CAER advanced proprietary solvent at pre-established optimal operating conditions in a relevantenvironment. The target mass transfer enhancement for this process intensification device is 30%, as this is critical for reducing capital expenses for future full-scale deployment of CO2 capture processes. Integrating a full-scale CO2 capture processes into a power plant for post combustion CO2 capture carries with it a high initial capital expense. Current projections estimate that a 60ft tall absorber column could cost . $85 million. If acoustic driven packing material can increase the overall mass transfer of the absorber column by 30% then the total needed height of the absorber column can be reduced to 42ft bringing the cost down to . $62 million, a 26% savings. This savings was determined from current UKy-CAER estimates and has factored in the estimated cost for the acoustic equipment. The success of this project will also open several new doors for scientific exploration. Any process which uses viscous liquid thin-films and could have its performance improved from an increase in interfacial surface area could benefit from this technology, such as solvent stripping. Collaborations with NETLfs carbon capture programs, Energy Market Analysis and Process Systems Engineering Research teams, is necessary to assess the viability of this technology in terms of its scalability as well as to determine if this technology has feasible applications for other processes. Lastly, we will be establishing a partnership with MPI Ultrasonics for the design and implementation of their acoustic technology.