Simulation of CO2 Absorption in Hollow-Fiber Membrane Contactors for Wetting and Non-wetting Modes

This study deals with absorption of CO2 in hollow-fiber membrane contactors (HFMCs). Simulations were performed to study CO2 transport through HFMCs. The simulations were performed via CFD techniques based on finite element method (FEM). Simulation results were validated with the experimental data for CO2 absorption using amine aqueous solutions. The simulation results were in consistent with the experimental data. Six liquid absorbents including aqueous solutions of monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium glycinate (PG) were compared for absorption of CO2. The simulation results showed that the removal of CO2 using aqueous solution of PG was the highest among the other absorbents.

Keywords:

CO2 absorption , Hollow-fiber membrane contactor , Mathematical modeling