Rotating Packed Beds (RPBs) are an attractive alternative to conventional separation columns commonly used in absorption and distillation processes in the chemical industry. RPBs offer a promising route to process intensification as they overcome the mass transport limitations of conventional columns due to gravity field. By utilizing rotation, RPBs create a centrifugal field that improves contact between the gas and liquid phases. In countercurrent operation, the gas flows is pressed through the packing from outside towards the center of the rotor, while the liquid is introduced at the center of the rotor and driven outwards by the centrifugal forces. This unique configuration favors increased mass and heat transfer and promises improved process efficiency and lower energy requirements.

This research focuses on two central aspects of RPB applications. The first is the exploration of amine-based CO2 absorption techniques specifically adapted for RPBs. The aim is to improve solvent performance and ensure compatibility with the specific operating characteristics of these systems. Secondly, the research deals with distillation and aims to create models to assess the scalability of RPBs. These models provide valuable insights into the feasibility of industrial-scale applications. In addition, scalability is investigated through the construction of 3D-printed column internals to further refine the description of scalability.

Oral presentations

• Greven, Doganay, Held, Schembecker
  Amine based CO₂ absorption in Rotating Packed Beds
  ROTOR Colloquium, Berlin, Germany (2023)