Modeling, simulation and evaluation of biogas upgrading using aqueous choline chloride/urea

Biogas has been considered as an alternative renewable energy, and raw biogas needs to be upgraded in order to be used as vehicle fuels or injected into the natural gas grid. In this work, the conceptual process for biogas upgrading using aqueous choline chloride (ChCl)/urea (1:2 on a molar basis) was developed, simulated and evaluated based on the commercialized software Aspen Plus. Reliable thermophysical properties and phase equilibria are prerequisite for carrying out process simulation. In order to carry out the process simulation, the thermophysical properties of ChCl/Urea (1:2) and its aqueous solutions as well as the phase equilibria of gas-ChCl/Urea (1:2), ChCl/Urea (1:2)-H₂O and gas-ChCl/Urea (1:2)-H₂O were surveyed and evaluated. After evaluation, the consistent experimental data of these thermophysical properties were fitted to the models embedded in Aspen Plus. The properties needed but without available experimental results were predicted theoretically. The Non-Random Two-Liquid model and the Redlich-Kwong equation (NRTL-RK) model were used to describe the phase equilibria. The equilibrium approach was used for process simulation. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the reasonable operating parameters. With a set of reasonable operating conditions, the effects of ChCl/Urea (1:2) content on the total energy utilization, the diameters and pressure drops of absorber and desorber as well as the environmental assessment of the process were studied. The simulation results showed that, with the addition of ChCl/Urea (1:2), the total energy utilization decreased by 16% compared to the process with pure water, and the diameters of both absorber and desorber decreased with increasing content of ChCl/Urea (1:2). The process using aqueous ChCl/Urea (1:2) was more environmentally benign than that with pure water. Therefore, aqueous ChCl/Urea (1:2) is a promising solvent for biogas upgrading.