Abstract: A process and system for improving the efficiency of regenerating a CO2-rich liquid absorbent stream following contact in an absorption zone with, e.g., a flue gas stream from which it has absorbed CO2, and recovering a substantially pure stream of includes passing the pressurized liquid sorbent through a heating zone to heat it to the desorption temperature, e.g., to about 80°-85° C. for aqueous K2CO3 sorbent, introducing the heated liquid sorbent into a cyclone separation zone where the combination of increased temperature, reduced pressure and the centrifugal forces on the liquid/gas mixture result in a relatively more rapid and efficient separation of the CO2 from the liquid sorbent from which it has been released.

Abstract: A process and system for improving the efficiency of regenerating a CO2-rich liquid absorbent stream following contact in an absorption zone with, e.g., a flue gas stream from which it has absorbed CO2, and recovering a substantially pure stream of includes passing the pressurized liquid sorbent through a heating zone to heat it to the desorption temperature, e.g., to about 80°-85° C. for aqueous K2CO3 sorbent, introducing the heated liquid sorbent into a cyclone separation zone where the combination of increased temperature, reduced pressure and the centrifugal forces on the liquid/gas mixture result in a relatively more rapid and efficient separation of the CO2 from the liquid sorbent from which it has been released.