Abstract
A novel adsorption cycle is examined experimentally and theoretically for recovering carbon dioxide from a 50 mol% mixture with carbon monoxide. Several adsorbents are considered, and zeolite NaY is chosen for the process due to its high capacity and selectivity for CO2 in the presence of CO. The process consists of three steps. The bed is fed the gas mixture at 273 K until CO2 breakthrough occurs. The bed then undergoes countercurrent blowdown of CO2 while heating at 391 K and is finally cooled to the initial feed temperature once the bed has been depleted of CO2. Results are presented from laboratory scale experiments and are described using numerical simulations. This novel cycle provides a method for capturing and producing CO2 without the need for a purge gas and has low energy requirements if waste heat is available.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Office of Biological and Physical Research for the support of this research under Fluid Physics Grant NAG3‐2401.