Modeling and validation of a pilot-scale aqueous mineral carbonation reactor for carbon capture using computational fluid dynamics

Minjun Kim, Jonggeol Na, Seongeon Park, Jong Ho Park, Chonghun Han

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

In anticipation of the successful establishment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, a pilot-scale aqueous mineral carbonation plant, that removes CO2 through a reaction with a Ca(OH)2 solution, was built in Incheon, South Korea. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), two reactors with a diameter of 2.2 m and a height of 6.0 m were modeled and validated for reactor scale-up and optimization. Because a direct simulation of bubble breakage, coalescence, and interphase mass transfer results in enormous computational costs for modeling the pilot-scale multiphase reactor, a CFD-lumped correlation model was introduced to simulate a large reactor; this resulted in acceptable computational costs and maintained the simulation accuracy. In order to ensure the acceptability of the CFD model, two-step verification was conducted. The CFD model results were compared with the experimental data and published empirical correlations with regard to the gas holdup, interfacial area, and mass transfer coefficient. Subsequently, the CO2 removal efficiencies of the CFD model were compared with the pilot-plant data. The errors of the CFD model for three hydrodynamic parameters and the CO2 removal efficiencies were in the range of 1–8%. The validated CFD model will be used for designing a four times larger mineral carbonation reactor, that will be built in 2017.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-312
Number of pages12
JournalChemical Engineering Science
Volume177
DOIs
StatePublished - 23 Feb 2018

Keywords

  • Bubble column
  • CCUS
  • CFD
  • Mineral carbonation
  • Pilot-scale reactor
  • Validation

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