Modeling the Water Scrubbing Process and Energy Requirements for CO2 Capture to Upgrade Biogas to Biomethane

Nock, William J.; Walker, Mark; Kapoor, Rimika; Heaven, Sonia

Abstract

Water scrubbing is the most widely used technology for removing CO2 from biogas and landfill gas. This work developed a rate-based mass transfer model of the CO2–water system for upgrading biogas in a packed bed absorption column. The simulated results showed good agreement with both a pilot-scale plant operating at 10 bar, and a large-scale biogas upgrading plant operating at atmospheric pressure. The calculated energy requirement for the absorption column to upgrade biogas to 98% CH4 (0.23 kWh Nm–3, or 4.2% of the input biogas) is a significantly closer approximation to the measured value (0.26 kWh Nm–3, or 4.8% of the input biogas) than has previously been reported in the literature. The model allows for improved design of CO2 capture and biogas upgrading operations and can also be a useful tool for more detailed cost–benefit analysis of the technology.

Citation

Nock, W. J., Walker, M., Kapoor, R., & Heaven, S. (2014). Modeling the Water Scrubbing Process and Energy Requirements for CO2 Capture to Upgrade Biogas to Biomethane. Industrial & engineering chemistry research, 53(32), 12783-12792. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie501280p

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 10, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jul 29, 2014
• Publication Date: Aug 13, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2021
• Journal: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
• Print ISSN: 0888-5885
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 32
• Pages: 12783-12792
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ie501280p
• Keywords: Energy; Liquids; Absorption; Mass transfer; Manufacturing
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3742514
• Related Public URLs: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/367420/