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Abstract

In this work, modelling and simulation of a vacuum swing adsorption unit has been carried out using Aspen Adsorption simulator. The major chemical components involved in the development of the model were carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Peng-Robinson equation of state was chosen as the fluid package. The model of the system was developed by inserting the necessary blocks and streams into the flowsheet, connecting the blocks with the streams, inputting the stream parameters and specifying the kinetic models as well as the mass transfer coefficients required for the simulation. In the simulation environment,0.09-0.1kmol/s of dry flue gas was passed through a 2-bed adsorption system in a six-step cycle and the adsorbent used was Acticarb GC1200, which was activated carbon derived from coconut shells. The adsorbent beds used were designed to have values that would give maximum efficiency of the system. The model developed for the system was run for 10 cycles. The results obtained showed that the unit could be operated with two adsorber beds each having a diameter of 1.76479 m and a height of 3.53568 m with an isentropic vacuum pump. It was also discovered that the adsorbent employed for the simulation was able to capture CO2 from flue gas under the established performance criteria. The results obtained were found to compare well with those of other researches. It is recommended that the process should be subjected to optimisation for the purpose of improvement in the design and operation.