Objective By carrying out the process simulation calculation of MEA/flue gas CO₂ capture system, the influences of theoretical tray number and packing height on the simulation calculation were studied and analyzed.

Methods The Aspen HYSYS software was used to simulate at different packing heights and different theoretical tray number of absorber under the solution circulation of 30 m³/h and 40 m³/h. The results of CO₂ capture rate and renewable energy consumption were compared and analyzed.

Results The simulation results showed that the simulation value of CO₂ capture rate was low when the theoretical tray number was 20 or 25. When the theoretical tray number of absorber was 20, the energy consumption of renewable energy was 1.61-1.87 times as much as that of the absorption tower using 252Y structured packing (packing height 10 m), and 1.53-1.78 times as much as that of the absorption tower with 50 mm Pall ring packing (packing height 15 m). When the theoretical tray number of absorber was 25, it was 1.31-1.38 times as much as that of the absorption tower using 252Y structured packing (packing height 10 m), and 1.24-1.32 times as much as that of the absorption tower using 50 mm Pall ring packing (packing height 15 m). For 30 wt% MEA/flue gas absorption system, the critical height of 252Y structured packing was 10 m, the critical height of 50 mm Pall ring packing was 15 m. The simulated renewable energy consumption was 4.10-4.31 GJ/t CO₂.

Conclusions When the theoretical tray number of absorber is 20 or 25, the simulation value of renewable energy consumption is too high, and Aspen HYSYS software has poor adaptability in energy consumption simulation. When using Aspen HYSYS for simulation calculation, it is recommended to define the structure parameters of the absorber before carrying out system simulation, so that relatively accurate simulation results can be obtained.