Enhanced Carbon Capture in a Multiport Microscale Absorber

Increasing concerns on the effects of global warming leading to climate change has necessitated the development of efficient technologies to separate acid gas components, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, from gaseous mixtures. Microscale technologies have the potential to substantially enhance gas-liquid absorption processes on account of their inherent high surface area to volume ratio. The present work reports the mass transfer characteristics during gas-liquid absorption in a multiport microscale absorber. The reactor was designed to comprise of 15 straight, parallel channels having a hydraulic diameter of 456 micrometer and square cross-sectional geometry. The absorption of CO₂ mixed with N₂ into aqueous diethanolamine was investigated. The performance of the absorber was characterized with respect to the absorption efficiency and mass transfer coefficient. Parametric studies investigating the effects of the gas and liquid phase superficial velocity were performed and discussed. Additionally, the effect of varying the liquid reactant concentration was investigated and discussed.