What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore the CO2 desublimation characteristics for natural gas decarbonization.

January 25, 2026Open Access

Study on Natural Gas Decarbonization Process Based on CO 2 Desublimation Characteristics

Puntos clave

This research aims to explore the CO2 desublimation characteristics for natural gas decarbonization.
Introduced snow separation technology for CO2 removal in natural gas.
Conducted phase equilibrium calculations using cubic equations of state (EOSs).
Identified SRK-EOS and PR-EOS as the accurate models for N2-CO2 and CH4-CO2 systems, respectively.
Defined operational windows for CO2 desublimation through analysis of CH4-CO2 frosting characteristics.
Performed numerical simulations on the CO2 desublimation process.
CO2 content in the product gas was reduced to below 3% under specific pressure conditions.
Higher system pressure and feed CO2 mole fraction increased nucleation rate and supersaturation, promoting ice crystal growth.
Higher temperatures reduced the effectiveness of CO2 removal, confirming the feasibility of the desublimation process.

Resumen

ABSTRACT Natural gas decarbonization is a crucial processing step. In this study, the snow separation technology for removal of carbon dioxide in natural gas based on CO 2 desublimation characteristics was introduced. The phase equilibrium calculation of CH 4 ‐CO 2 and N 2 ‐CO 2 system was carried out by using cubic equations of states (EOSs), and identified the SRK‐EOS as the most accurate model under low‐temperature, low‐pressure conditions ( T < 250 K, p < 3.2 MPa) for N 2 ‐CO 2 system and the PR‐EOS for CH 4 ‐CO 2 system. Analysis of the CH 4 ‐CO 2 system's frosting characteristics defined the operational window for CO 2 desublimation, leading to the development of a novel experimental separation system, and the process consistently reduced the CO 2 content in the top product gas to below 3% (molar fraction) under pressures of 0.7–1.2 MPa. This study conducted numerical simulation on the CO 2 desublimation process, which cannot be tested experimentally. Numerical simulations revealed that the nucleation rate and supersaturation increased with higher system pressure and feed CO 2 mole fraction, accelerating CO 2 ice crystal growth and consumption of gas‐phase CO 2 . Conversely, higher temperatures exhibited an opposing effect. These results confirm the technical feasibility of the CO 2 desublimation process for efficient natural gas decarbonization.

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