Compared with traditional alcohol amine solvents, MDEA (methyldiethanolamine) solution has the disadvantage of being easy to foam, which will lead to a decrease in solution purification efficiency, unqualified solution regeneration, serious mist entrainment, and increased solution loss. A series of problems, such as a serious drop in system processing capacity and substandard purified gas quality, not only affect the normal operation of the device, but also cause serious economic losses. Therefore, sufficient attention must be paid. Usually the absorption tower is the part that is prone to foaming, but the regeneration tower may also foam.
Factors causing foaming of MDEA solution
A bubble is a heterogeneous multiphase system formed by a certain volume of gas surrounded by a liquid. It has two main indicators: bubble structure and stability. Although a clean MDEA solution has a tendency to foam, its bubbles are extremely unstable and will not affect the normal operation of the device. The solution will only foam when there are foreign substances that enhance the stability of the bubbles. The following factors are the main causes of MDEA solution foaming:
1. Solid particles
2. Surfactant
3. Amine Degradation
4. The operation fluctuates greatly
Prevention and treatment of MDEA solution foaming:
1. Raw material gas purification
2. Enhanced solution filtration
3. Prevent oxygen from entering the system, etc.
