Abstract
Fractals are the evolutionary answer that Nature has developed to provide highly packed structures for mass and heat transfer. In this work, a computational fluid dynamics model will be presented to gain insight on the multiphase flow characteristics within fractal geometries. A substantial increment of the gas-liquid interface area with the fractal dimension of the particular geometry being tested is expected. This will allow the implementation of more compact designs, i.e. with greater specific area, than the conventional structured packings currently used for gas separation. More compact designs also mean less solvent used for the same gas absorption rate, reducing the heat duty of solvent regeneration. The next steps of this research will include the use of 3D printing techniques to reproduce fractal geometries to be tested in an experimental setup, and the study of the interaction between nature-inspired gas absorbers and the rest of the carbon emitting facility through process simulations.