The influence of random packed column parameters on the liquid holdup and interfacial area

Carbon dioxide capture via solvent absorption in packed columns has emerged as a potential technology to mitigate coal-fired power plant CO2 emissions. Parameters, including packing types, solvent properties, and operating conditions, could potentially affect the packed column CO2 capture efficiency. To understand the importance of those parameters and help packed column optimization, a design of experiments (DoEs) method was proposed to generate input parameter matrix. Combined with multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the random packed column parameter influence on the liquid holdup and interfacial area can be efficiently investigated. Surrogate-based sensitivity analysis shows that the solvent flow rate and contact angle are key factors dictating liquid holdup and interfacial area. On the other hand, solvent viscosity has a marginal impact on the interfacial area. The sensitivity scores were calculated for each input parameter to guide the selection of dimensionless numbers for the liquid holdup and interfacial area correlation development.