The Effect of the Packing Flow Area and Biogas Flow Rate on Biogas Purification in Packed Bed Scrubber

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to reduce the level of impurities in biogas to get a higher concentration of methane gas (CH4) in it. Biogas purification process is carried out in a packed scrubber using Monoethanolamine (MEA) compound as an absorbent. This research focuses on the effect of the packing flow area and the optimum biogas flow rate for obtaining purified biogas with a high concentration of methane (CH4). The results of the study reveal that the packing flow area measuring 0.1963 cm2 is more optimal in the purification process compared to 1.7633 cm2 packing flow area. Different biogas flow rates at 0.3 L/min, 0.5 L/min, 1 L/min, and 12 L/min yield different results, and the highest concentration of CH4 at 90.141% is obtained from the slowest flow rate, which is 0.3 L/min. The slow flow rate and a small packing flow area equal to a longer contact time between MEA and the biogas flowing through it; hence, the absorption contact area is also greater compared to that with a faster flow rate; therefore, the highest level of CH4 is obtained at the slowest biogas flow rate.

Keywords

• biogas purification
• mea
• packing flow area
• biogas flow rate
• packed column