Device‐scale CFD modeling of gas‐liquid multiphase flow and amine absorption for CO2 capture

In this paper we aim to develop a validated device‐scale CFD model that can predict quantitatively both hydrodynamics and CO2 capture efficiency for an amine‐based solvent absorber column with random Pall ring packing. A Eulerian porous‐media approach and a two‐fluid model were employed, in which the momentum and mass transfer equations were closed by literature‐based empirical closure models. We proposed a hierarchical approach for calibrating the parameters in the closure models to make them accurate for the packed column. Specifically, a parameter for momentum transfer in the closure was first calibrated based on data from a single experiment. With this calibrated parameter, a parameter in the closure for mass transfer was next calibrated under a single operating condition. Last, the closure of the wetting area was calibrated for each gas velocity at three different liquid flow rates. For each calibration, cross validations were pursued using the experimental data under operating conditions different from those used for calibrations. This hierarchical approach can be generally applied to develop validated device‐scale CFD models for different absorption columns. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.