96/00713 Methodology for the selection of low NOx firing alternatives

Abstract

In 2007 RWE Power, BASF and Linde entered into a cooperation to develop an optimized post combustion capture technology for power plants. In mid-2009 a CO2 capture pilot plant will be commissioned at RWE Power’s lignite-fired power plant at Niederaussem, Germany. The pilot plant comprises all significant components of a large post combustion capture plant but on a smaller scale. Some capture process optimization measures are implemented that should increase the overall efficiency and reduce the costs of a commercial capture plant. The design of the pilot plant - engineering, procurement and construction by Linde - allows testing the performance and stability of optimized CO2 solvents, which BASF is currently developing. On the basis of an elaborated solvent selection methodology (pre-selection, screening, etc.) comprehensive experiments are carried out in order to examine solvent performance, and some measures for the optimization of the process configuration are developed. The 18-month pilot plant testing programme will allow the performance of the optimized solvent and the process to be evaluated.