Sensitivity Analysis of Post Combustion Carbon Capture Using Monoethanolamine (MEA) as a Solvent. A Simulation Study

Carbon capturing and storage (CCS) is new technology to remove CO2 from the processes that involve elimination of CO2 as its effect on the environment and incessant increase in temperature of the Earth, makes it interesting as well as most dangerous issue that should be dealt timely to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. In the present research, the data obtained from the experimental study of CO2 capture pilot plant at the Laboratory of Engineering Thermodynamic in TU Kaiserslautern, Germany, is used for the rate based model validation for different cases using monoethenolamine (MEA) as a solvent. Process simulation sensitivity analysis performed includes a wide range of CO2 concentrations for flue gas of different sources i.e. natural gas fired power plant, exhaust gas recycle and coal based power plant. Results obtained from sensitivity analysis point out the effects of lean loading, stripper pressure, MEA concentration and CO2 concentration in flue gas on energy requirement of reboiler and degree of regeneration using MEA as a solvent for a pilot-scale study. It was found that the specific reboiler duty is least for coal-fired power plant in comparison to the natural gas �fired and exhaust gas recycled power plant, keeping the flow rate of the flue gas constant.