Conference abstract – PCCC8: Validation of the CESAR1 model in CO2SIM based on extensive pilot experiments

Abstract

The CESAR1 model in the CO2SIM simulator has been updated based on new laboratory experiments covering a broader loading and temperature range compared to previous reported data in the literature. The updated model has been validated and successfully improved by extensive testing at the Tiller pilot plant, which operated under a wide range of conditions including CO2 concentration, liquid flow rate, gas velocity, and absorber and stripper temperature. The simulator contains a range of models with different degrees of complexity. For the VLE model, we have chosen to follow a simplified “soft model”- implementation. Such a model does not calculate species and a full equilibrium of all components, such as for example the NRTL model. It is thus much faster and much less prone to over-fitting. The simulated performance of the process aligns very well with the pilot plant performance across 36 various steady state runs. It is concluded that with this updated version, the simulator is well-suited for simulating CO2 capture plants to be integrated with various types of industrial process- and power plants. The main objective is focusing on operational aspects such as total energy requirements, actual performance data such as loading levels, circulation requirements and unit operation sizes. Here, the validation procedures includes a combined plant simulation including absorber, desorber and connected unit operations. Emphasis has been focusing on standardized software for mass validation of test campaign runs.

Keywords: Post combustion carbon capture; amine based CO2 absorption; CESAR1 Solvent; solvent and process modelling; steady state model validation

Authors: F.A. Tobiesen, H.M.Kvamsdal, T. Mejdell, K.A. Hoff (SINTEF Industry).