Advancing carbon capture from bench to pilot scale using dynamic similitude

The accelerated scale-up and deployment of carbon management technologies are critical steps to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Many of these technologies involve highly coupled multiphysics phenomena, making the prediction of scaling behaviors using standard engineering methods such as dynamic similitude highly challenging. In this article, we demonstrate the application of the concept of dynamic similitude to a carbon capture process. Specifically, we show that a lab-scale (0.6 m) carbon capture column is able to match previously published thermal profiles of a pilot-scale column—at several operating conditions—by matching dimensionless groups as informed by a 1D absorber model. We describe the various experimental aspects that required extra care in order to capture dynamically similar conditions; most notably, we developed a high-surface-area porous packing that enhanced liquid spreading in the lab-scale column. We conclude by discussing the opportunities and challenges in applying this concept to other decarbonization technologies.