2019 Volume 52 Issue 5 Pages 439-446
In this study, a carbon monoxide (CO) absorption column model based on the COSORB process was designed for CO separation. We presented a 1-D dynamic simulation model of the CO absorption column using gPROMS. The designed model was validated using actual data from a pilot plant for syngas separation. To illustrate the applicability of the designed model, case studies were conducted for CO separation from blast furnace gas (BFG) and Linz–Donawitz gas (LDG), which are the major by-product gases from the iron and steel industry. The simulation results showed slight difference in the final absorption ratio of CO from the gases (>99% in all cases); however, CO absorption rate of LDG was 4 times larger than other cases because of its high CO concentration. However, the reaction rate of LDG is very high, the absorption of LDG in the column showed a pattern different from those for BFG and syngas absorption. The case studies for the operating pressure and feed temperature showed that the CO concentration [CO] in the feed gas must be higher than 0.16 kmol/m3 to achieve 99% CO absorption.
