Mechanism of CO2 capture enhancement in rotating packed beds: Breakup and dispersion characteristics of amine jet impingement on rotating wire meshes

The rotating packed bed (RPB) is a key process intensification equipment for ship-based carbon capture. To clarify the breakup and dispersion mechanisms of amine jets impinging on rotating wire meshes, a theoretical framework is first developed to separately describe momentum transfer over horizontal and vertical wires. Then, a high-speed camera visualization setup is developed, and the Segment-Anything Model is employed to analyze the breakup dynamics of amine jets under various operating conditions. The results show that the amine jet undergoes four stages under rotational shear, including liquid cluster formation, ligament stretching, ligament detachment, and necking and breakup. A circumferential dispersion dominance factor, η VH ∼ C D , p ⋅ Re d , is derived from momentum conservation to quantify the effect of mesh geometry. Horizontal wires primarily promote the spreading of the jet into liquid sheets, whereas vertical wires induce circumferential dispersion and breakup into droplets through the combined effects of form drag and viscous force. Form drag makes the dominant contribution and is quantified by Re d / 4 . Parametric analysis indicates that a mesh number of 20–25, MEA concentration of 30–50 wt%, jet velocity of 3–5 m/s, and rotational speed of 900–1100 r/min are favorable for enhancing jet breakup and liquid dispersion. Finally, an empirical correlation for the dispersion angle θ s , θ s π = f We Ro Oh J p Φ θ c π , is established by incorporating amine properties, mesh structure, and wettability, with a prediction error within ±15%. This study reveals the mechanism of amine jet breakup governed by wire-orientation, providing mechanistic guidance for the design and optimization of packing structures in RPB carbon capture systems.