Current Project:

Carbon Capture using a Rotating Packed Bed

The project is an EU funded collaboration under the acronym ROLINCAP.

"ROLINCAP will search, identify and test novel phase-change solvents which can be utilized in specifically designed packed bed and rotating packed bed processes for post-combustion CO2 capture. These are high potential technologies, still in their infancy, with initial evidence pointing to very low regeneration energy requirements and considerable reduction of the equipment size, several times compared to conventional processes. These goals will be approached through a holistic decision making framework. The tools proposed in ROLINCAP will cover a vast space of solvent and process options going far beyond the capabilities of existing simulators. ROLINCAP follows a radically new path by proposing one predictive modelling framework for both physical and chemical equilibrium, for a wide range of phase behaviours and of solvent structures. The envisaged thermodynamic model will be used for the design of phase-change solvents, beyond the very few previously identified options. Advanced process design approaches will be used for the development of highly intensified packed and rotating packed bed processes. The sustainability of both the new solvents and processes will be investigated considering holistic approaches. Selected solvent and process options will be tested in pilot plants. New software for the thermodynamics of solvent-based CO2 capture systems will be developed for the gPROMS process simulator."

 PhD Project:

Process Intensification of CO₂ Absorption with Rotating Packed Bed (RPB) using tertiary amines

The state-of-art in CO₂ capture is CO₂ absorption with monoethanolamine in conventional packed columns and towers. However, the major drawback  of this process is the high energy penalty from amine regeneration. The application of process intensification in the form of rotating packed beds for CO₂ absorption with highly concentrated tertiary amines could potentially significantly reduce energy for regeneration in CO₂ capture and lower the  cost of the entire capture process.