Comprehensive modeling and CFD simulation of absorption of CO2 and H2S by MEA solution in hollow fiber membrane reactors

A comprehensive mathematical model has been developed for the simulation of simultaneous chemical absorption of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide by means of Monoethanolamine (MEA) aqueous solution in hollow fiber membrane reactors is described. In this regard, a perfect model considering the entrance regions of momentum, energy, and mass transfers was developed. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques were applied to solve governing equations, and the model predictions were validated against experimental data reported in the literature and excellent agreement was found. Effects of different disturbances on the dynamic behavior of the reactor were investigated. Moreover, effects of various parameters such as wetting fraction, gas and liquid inlet velocities, inlet temperature of the solvent, MEA concentration, and CO2 and H2S compositions were carefully studied. It was found that for large values of gas velocity or small values of liquid velocity, the thermal energy equation can play an important role in the model predictions. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 60: 657–672, 2014

[1]  Jing-liang Li,et al.  Review of CO2 absorption using chemical solvents in hollow fiber membrane contactors , 2005 .

[2]  Kang Li,et al.  Preparation and characterization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) hollow fiber membranes for vacuum membrane distillation , 2007 .

[3]  Benny D. Freeman,et al.  Modeling multicomponent gas separation using hollow‐fiber membrane contactors , 1998 .

[4]  J. Corriou,et al.  Carbon dioxide absorption by monoethanolamine in hollow fiber membrane contactors: A parametric investigation , 2012 .

[5]  Luzheng Zhang,et al.  Representing Vapor−Liquid Equilibrium for an Aqueous MEA−CO2 System Using the Electrolyte Nonrandom-Two-Liquid Model , 1999 .

[6]  Mohamed Al-Marzouqi,et al.  Mathematical modeling for the simultaneous absorption of CO2 and H2S using MEA in hollow fiber membrane contactors , 2009 .

[7]  C. A. Smolders,et al.  Selective removal of H2S from sour gas with microporous membranes. Part I. Application in a gas-liquid system , 1992 .

[8]  Edward L Cussler,et al.  Microporous hollow fibers for gas absorption : II. Mass transfer across the membrane , 1985 .

[9]  M. P. Burgess,et al.  Physical properties of hydrogen sulfide‐water mixtures , 1969 .

[10]  D. T. Liang,et al.  Effect of PVDF dope rheology on the structure of hollow fiber membranes used for CO2 capture , 2006 .

[11]  Muftah H. El-Naas,et al.  Modeling of chemical absorption of CO2 in membrane contactors , 2008 .

[12]  B Eiseman,et al.  Experimental evaluation of Gore-Tex membrane oxygenator. , 1975, The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.

[13]  É. Favre,et al.  Hollow fiber membrane contactor for hydrogen sulfide odor control , 2008 .

[14]  Edward L Cussler,et al.  Microporous hollow fibers for gas absorption. I. Mass transfer in the liquid , 1985 .

[15]  J. Fathikalajahi,et al.  Mathematical modeling of the simultaneous absorption of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in a hollow fiber membrane contactor , 2008 .

[16]  Kefa Cen,et al.  Experimental study on the separation of CO2 from flue gas using hollow fiber membrane contactors without wetting , 2007 .

[17]  Kang Li,et al.  Selective removal of trace H2S from gas streams containing CO2 using hollow fibre membrane modules/contractors , 2004 .

[18]  M. Al-Marzouqi,et al.  Simultaneous removal of CO2 and H2S from pressurized CO2–H2S–CH4 gas mixture using hollow fiber membrane contactors , 2012 .

[19]  Eugeny Y. Kenig,et al.  CO2‐Alkanolamine Reaction Kinetics: A Review of Recent Studies , 2007 .

[20]  A. E. Jansen,et al.  CO2 separation with polyolefin membrane contactors and dedicated absorption liquids: performances and prospects , 2002 .

[21]  Akanksha,et al.  Carbon dioxide absorption into monoethanolamine in a continuous film contactor , 2007 .