Simulation of the aerosol nucleation rate in an amine absorption column

Saturation drives the formation of aerosols in Post Cumbustion CO۲ Capture columns (PCCCs) which happens in the gas phase. The gas is considered to be supersaturated through aerosol nucleation when the degree of saturation (S) is greater than ۱. the aerosol nucleation may be initiated by two mechanisms: (i) homogeneous nucleation: at high saturation ratios (S>۲), where the nucleation of molecules of condensable components leads to particle formation and (ii) heterogeneous nucleation in which fine droplets dispersed in the gas phase can provide the basis for particle formation even at rather low saturation ratios (S~۱). A rate-based model in ASPEN PLUS ® was used to simulate a typical amine PCCC and based on the simulation results, the degree of saturation, which is determinative for aerosol formation and growth, is calculated along the column. The effects of parameter on the heterogeneouse nucleation rate in the PCCC plant, such as the lean solvent temperature was investigated. The results show that the maximum nucleation rate was observed at the lean and gas temperatures of ۲۵ ˚C and ۵۰ ˚C, respectively. The results of this study can be use to omtimize the amine consumption in the absorption columns.

Keywords:

Amine , Aerosol , Saturation , Nucleation rate , ,