Computational design of multi-sorbent adsorption processes for post-combustion carbon capture
File(s)
Author(s)
Ward, Adam
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Post-combustion carbon capture has been widely identified as an important technology towards decarbonisation of fossil fuel-based energy generation and carbon-intensive industrial processes. In a post-combustion capture process, flue gases eluted from these industrial point sources are separated to remove CO2 before releasing to the atmosphere. Among the available technologies being developed to achieve post-combustion carbon capture, gas-phase separation in a pressure/vacuum-swing adsorption (PVSA) process is a promising option.
In this thesis, we aim towards understanding the design of a novel PVSA process configuration for post-combustion carbon capture from a computational perspective. Classically, PVSA processes are designed by selecting a single solid adsorbent to form a fixed bed adsorber. The choice of the adsorbent in the process design always represents a trade-off between several important design factors, and as such, to date, no single adsorbent has been identified which performs ideally against all the desired criteria. In this work, we study a novel adsorption process design in which we form a fixed bed adsorber utilising multiple adsorbent materials in a single bed – a multi-sorbent process. The working principle of this design is that one can aim towards exploiting the desirable process-scale characteristics of more than one adsorbent simultaneously, and therefore enhance the performance of the separation process. We present a comprehensive computational design framework for this system and provide a detailed analysis of the process behaviour and its applicability at the industrial scale.
To achieve this, we develop and deploy state-of-the-art computational tools for process simulation, optimization, uncertainty quantification, and sensitivity analysis. The developed tools are applied for the design of the novel multi-sorbent process configuration, and are further used to provide valuable insight and advancements in the state-of-the-art techniques to be applied in the wider context of adsorption process design.
In this thesis, we aim towards understanding the design of a novel PVSA process configuration for post-combustion carbon capture from a computational perspective. Classically, PVSA processes are designed by selecting a single solid adsorbent to form a fixed bed adsorber. The choice of the adsorbent in the process design always represents a trade-off between several important design factors, and as such, to date, no single adsorbent has been identified which performs ideally against all the desired criteria. In this work, we study a novel adsorption process design in which we form a fixed bed adsorber utilising multiple adsorbent materials in a single bed – a multi-sorbent process. The working principle of this design is that one can aim towards exploiting the desirable process-scale characteristics of more than one adsorbent simultaneously, and therefore enhance the performance of the separation process. We present a comprehensive computational design framework for this system and provide a detailed analysis of the process behaviour and its applicability at the industrial scale.
To achieve this, we develop and deploy state-of-the-art computational tools for process simulation, optimization, uncertainty quantification, and sensitivity analysis. The developed tools are applied for the design of the novel multi-sorbent process configuration, and are further used to provide valuable insight and advancements in the state-of-the-art techniques to be applied in the wider context of adsorption process design.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2024-06-11
Date Awarded
01/09/2024
License URL
Advisor
Pini, Ronny
Sponsor
Imperial College London
Publisher Department
Chemical Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)