CFD–PBE numerical simulation of CO2 capture using MgO-based sorbent

•A novel regenerative SEWGS process in a circulating fluidized bed has been proposed.•The process is based on a new MgO-based solid sorbent.•A coupled CFD–PBM approach is introduced for the fluidized bed reactor simulations.•The PBM numerical solution is based on the finite size domain complete set of trial functions method of moment.

In this work a novel regenerative sorption enhanced water gas shift (SEWGS) process for high temperature and high pressure CO2 removal from Syngas in a circulating fluidized bed has been proposed. The process is based on an MgO-based solid sorbent. The major advantages of this sorbent include reducing the amount of WGS catalyst required to fully shift the Syngas to CO2 and H2 and eliminating Syngas cooling/reheating that is necessary for current CO2 separation systems. Another goal of this study was to improve the existing mono-disperse continuum models, i.e., Eulerian-Granular models that describe multiphase systems such as fluidized bed reactors, by considering the effect of poly-dispersity through a novel mathematical approach. As a result, a two-way coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics–Population Balance Model (CFD–PBM) along with an efficient numerical solution for the population balance equation has been proposed. The coupled CFD–PBM model along with the two-zone variable diffusivity shrinking core reaction model was utilized in baseline design of a bench scale high temperature, high pressure regenerative carbon capture process in the riser section of a circulation fluidized bed.

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