The modeling and simulation of CO2 capture processes with amine solutions are considered as important
developments toward the detailed study and analysis of these processes. In the literature, the application
of ratebased
models for the modeling of CO2 capture processes by amine solutions has been proved
superior to equilibriumstage
models. The results of ratebased
models, however, depend strongly on
the selection of model parameters such as physical properties, transport properties, kinetic models, and
mass transfer correlations. In this study, sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effect of
mass transfer correlations in combination with kinetic models on the performance of an absorber column.
The reason for this investigation is to establish appropriate correlations that can be used for design of the
CO2 capture process. Sensitivity analysis was performed using a ratebased
model for capture of CO2 in
monoethanolamine (MEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), and 2amino2methyl1propanol
(AMP)
solutions in packed columns containing structured and random packing. The model was successfully
validated by comparison of obtained results with published experimental data. The sensitivity analysis
revealed that the mass transfer correlations developed by Hanley and Chen (2012) to simulate a structured
packing absorption column, obtained the best results in comparison with the other tested and analyzed
correlations in this study. For a randomly packed column, the correlations suggested by Onda et al. (1968)
exhibited the best results. The kinetic models tested and examined in this study had a determinant role
in the results of the sensitivity analysis in a manner that reflected the assumptions used in development
of the model such as the temperature and amine concentration ranges. Therefore, careful selection of the
mass transfer correlations and kinetic models to be used in the ratebased
absorber model is required
for modeling of the CO2 capture process. Otherwise,