3D printed structures for optimized carbon capture technology in packed bed columns

Stephen Bolton, Abishek Kasturi, Scott Palko, Canhai Lai, Lonnie Love, Jim Parks, Sun Xin, Costas Tsouris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of 3D printed structured packing for the optimization of aqueous-amine based carbon capture in packed absorption columns is examined in this paper. An experimental testing system has been set up, and initial comparisons were made between metal, plastic, and 3D printed 16-inch packing elements and between three 8-inch 3D printed elements of different densities. Pressure drop measurements were obtained at various air flowrates under dry conditions. Measurements were also taken for a wet system by adding water at six different liquid flowrates. In each case, theoretical calculations for pressure drop were performed based on a model presented in the literature. It was found that, for the 16-inch dry column, the model slightly overpredicts the pressure drop. The model provides an accurate prediction for the dry 8-inch experimental data, especially for the two least dense packing elements. For the wet system, the model overpredicts the pressure drop, likely due to modeling deficiencies when the column reaches its loading limit. These results provide sufficient confidence to move forward with testing and process intensification of the CO2 capture process.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2047-2058
Number of pages12
JournalSeparation Science and Technology (Philadelphia)
Volume54
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2 2019

Funding

This research was funded by the Office of Fossil Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Stephen Bolton was supported by the HERE-NAE-GCSP program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan). This research was funded by the Office of Fossil Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Stephen Bolton was supported by the HERE-NAE-GCSP program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • Absorption column
  • carbon capture
  • post-combustion absorption
  • structured packing

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