Gas separation section

In this chapter, self-heat recuperation technology (SHRT) is applied in gas separation processes, which are (1) cryogenic air separation and (2) CO₂ chemical absorption processes. (1) The energy consumption of cryogenic air separation based on self-heat recuperation (SHR) can be reduced by 40 % compared with a conventional process. In the proposed process, not only the latent heat but also the sensible heat of the process stream is circulated in the process. Furthermore, the pressure in the column can be reduced compared with the high pressure part of a conventional cryogenic air separation process. (2) The energy consumption of a CO₂ chemical absorption process based on SHR can be reduced by 70 % compared with the conventional process. In the proposed process, the heat of the exothermic absorption reaction in the absorber and the heat of the steam condensation in the condenser of the stripper are recuperated and circulated for reuse for regeneration of absorbent solution and vaporization in water during CO₂ stripping.