Efficiency, Economic, Energy, and Safety (3ES) Analyses on Different Configurations of MDEA Absorption Process for Coke Oven Gas Desulfurization

Abstract

The purification of Coke Oven Gas received great attention due to its high potential of utilization for power generation and hydrogen production. This study simulated different configuration of MDEA process flowsheet and implemented the comprehensive evaluation. The comprehensive evaluation included H2S removal efficiency, energy consumption, techno-economic analysis, and safety assessment. The modified MDEA processes applied additional flash drums to enhance H2S removal efficiency and reduce heat duty of distillation column reboiler. MDEA with two intermediate flash drums showed the highest efficiency (96.5%), lowest reboiler duty (6.27 MW), and the lowest operation cost ($ 50/ Nm3-y). Conventional MDEA process exhibited the lowest capital cost ($ 1.531 million) and H2S leakage amount (30.3 kg) for an accident. MDEA with two flash drums process can be recommended when high purity coke oven gas was required. Conventional MDEA was recommended to consider safety and short-term operation with the lowest capital cost. MDEA with one flash drum can be recommended for stable desulfurization operation.