Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Simulation of CO2 Removal by Using Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors

In this study, a mathematical model is proposed for CO2 separation from N2/CO2 mixture using a hollow fiber membrane contactor by various absorbents. The contactor assumed as non-wetted membrane; radial and axial diffusions were also considered in the model development. The governing equations of the model are solved via the finite element method (FEM). To ensure the accuracy of the developed model, the simulation results were validated using the reported experimental data for potassium glycinate (PG), monoethanol amine (MEA), and methyldiethanol amine (MDEA). The results of the proposed model indicated that PG absorbent has the highest removal efficiency of CO2, followed by potassium threonate (PT), MEA, amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), diethanol amine (DEA), and MDEA in sequence. In addition, the results revealed that the CO2 removal efficiency was favored by absorbent flow rate and liquid temperature, while the gas flow rate has a reverse effect. The simulation results proved that the hollow fiber membrane contactors have a good potential in the area of CO2 capture.