Dynamic modeling and simulation of a CO2 absorber column for post-combustion CO2 capture

Post-combustion concepts based on absorption of CO2 in aqueous amine solutions are considered the most mature technologies for CO2 capture from power plants. Several steady-state models of the absorption process exist. However, a dynamic model is required in order to study the behavior of the absorption process downstream of a power plant that operates at varying load. In this paper, a dynamic model of an absorber is presented and the results of two transient operational scenarios are shown; start-up and load reduction. In addition, issues regarding the operability of the absorber column in case of load-varying upstream power-plants are discussed. It is concluded that the present dynamic absorber model can be applied to study operability in absorber columns during the course of dynamic operation. However, a dynamic model of the total system is required in order to evaluate all operational challenges, such as load variation and high degree of heat integration between the power plant and the absorber/stripper plant.