Assessing economic trade-off for advances in amine-based post-combustion capture technology

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the trade-off relationship between reducing energy consumption through technological improvements, including process modifications and the use of CO2-absorbing solvents, and the increased costs associated with their implementation in power and industrial sectors. Additionally, the economic potentials of heat-integrated CO2 capture and amine solvent degradation are explored. Four representative cases are considered, involving changes to lean vapor compression (LVC) and a blended amine solvent from a monoethanolamine (MEA) benchmark process. The findings indicate that the characteristics of combustion processes have a minor impact on the energy intensity of amine-based CO2 capture, but they significantly affect its cost. This is primarily due to substantial variations in fuel costs and equipment size. Technological advancements, such as process modifications and the use of amine solvents with high CO2 absorption capacity, play a crucial role in reducing both the energy consumption and costs associated with CO2 capture. However, the study suggests that careful consideration is needed when utilizing expensive amine solvents with high CO2 absorption capacity, particularly in situations prone to solvent degradation, as solvent loss can significantly impact the economic viability of CO2 capture.