HighPerformanceStructuredPackingsMakingCO2captureandreactive

distillationviable

arkoOluji
DelftUniversityofTechnology,Process&EnergyLaboratory
Leeghwaterstraat44,2628CADelft,theNetherlands

Inchemicalprocessindustries,processintensificationisgenerallyorientedtowards
increasing mass transfer efficiency of unit operations, including separations and
reactions. Most recently impressive advances have been achieved by coupling
reactionsandseparationbydistillation(orabsorption).Indeedreactivedistillationcan
beperformedinaneffectivewayusingmodularcatalyticstructuredpackings,which
are designed and arranged to enable under countercurrent flow conditions both
reactionandseparation.Theformeroccursinliquidphase,insidecatalystcontaining
compartments,whichareseparatedbyoneormorecorrugatedstructuredpacking
sheets that provide interface for separation related vapour/liquid contact. Internal
liquid holdup (inside catalyst containing pockets) affects reaction efficiency and
external(packedbed)liquidholdupmasstransferefficiency.Howeverthespecific
columnliquidloadisdeterminedbydistillationoperation,whichmeansthatthiscan
bebothsufficientandinsufficientwithrespecttoreactionrequirements.Thisbecomes
anevenlargerconcernincaseofperformingreactivedistillationinconjunctionwith
dividingwalldistillationcolumns,whereacertainliquidsplitabovethepartitionwall
canbeimposedbymechanicalmeans,butthepressuredropistheonlyinstrument
tocontrolthesplitofvapourflowsbelowthepartitionwall,whichhowevermustbe
adequatetoensurerequiredseparationperformance.Regardingreactionside,itis
very important to know exactly the internal liquid reflux, and employing advanced
measurementtechniquessuchasXraycomputedtomographylookstobepromising
inthisrespect.Pressuredropcontrolbecomesessential,andbyemployingsheetsof
high performance packings as constituents of catalytic packing compensates
significantlyforincreaseinoverallpressuredropduetoratherlowporosityofcatalytic
structuredpackings.Fortunately,inreactivedistillationapplicationsoftenarelatively
highpressuredropcanbetolerated.
Howevertherearesituationswhereeachmillibarofpressuredropcountsandit
appearsthatthiswillcertainlybethecasewithimplementationofpostcombustion
CO2capture technologies. Immense volume of offgas available at atmospheric
pressureneedstobepushedthroughabsorptiontowerofhugedimensionstoeffect
removalof90%ofCO2usingsomeofprovensolvents.Itisquestionablewhether
thisgoalcanbereachedinpracticeinaviablewayevenbyapplyingstateoftheart

high performance structured packings as gas/solvent contactor. This and other

equipmentperformancerelateduncertaintiesandchallengeswillbehighlightedand
discussed,includingabsurdsituationwithsolventrecoveryenergyrequirement.