Volume 38: Energy Transitions toward Carbon Neutrality: Part I

Optimization of the electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) for CO2 capture through computational modeling Huifeng Fan, Yuanhao Mao, Sayd Sultan, Xiaomei Wu, Yunsong Yu, Zaoxiao Zhang

Abstract

The electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) for CO2 capture presents a promising CO2 capture approach. The EMAR process relies on the competitive binding between Cu2+ and CO2 to solvent, and employs an externally powered electrochemical cell to the desorption of the absorbed CO2. This study focuses on the simulation of the EMAR process in the EDA-Cu system. Firstly, a chemical reaction equilibrium model for the Cu(II)-EDA-CO2-H2O system is established, and the concentration changes of each component in the electrolyte under different copper loads are obtained, providing a basis for simplifying the loaded EMAR process. Next, a multiphysics model is constructed using COMSOL software to simulate the EMAR process in a simple flat-plate reactor, employing the three-dimensional Nernst-Planck model and bubble flow model. The results show that the distribution of reactive ions in the electrolyte during operation conforms to ion liquid-phase mass transfer theory. The presence of CO2 bubbles during the electrolysis process enhances the electrode reactions to some extent. The co-current flow in the anode and cathode chambers exhibits better system stability and desorption performance compared to counter-current flow. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for the design and application of EMAR system reactors.

Keywords CO2 capture, EMAR, Simulation, Optimization