Abstract:  The Cryogenic Carbon CaptureTM (CCC) process is a promising technology which appears to be more efficient than existing amine-based carbon capture.  This work seeks to improve the CCC process in two ways:  first, by improving the effectiveness of the direct contact heat exchanger (currently, a spray tower) by using wetted wires, and second, by investigating alternative contact liquids.  This work also seeks to progress the wetted-wire technology in its own right. 

A thorough literature review of existing wetted-wire columns is presented with an emphasis on how they compare with spray towers and packed columns.  Wetted-wire columns are also valuable tools for theoretical and research purposes as they exhibit the extreme limit of anisotropy for column internals. Room temperature experiments were conducted to estimate the maximum wire density within a wetted-wire column.  This yielded unexpected results. 

The wire density can be much higher than expected leading to significant increases in surface area for increased heat and mass transfer.  Several prototypes of wetted-wire columns are presented, along with data from a wetted-wire desublimator.  Alternative contact liquids were assessed leading to three new proposed recipes.  Clear pathways for future research for low-temperature carbon capture and wetted wires are explained.