Cost-optimal CO2 capture ratio for membrane-based capture from different CO2 sources

Simon Roussanaly,Rahul Anantharaman

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2017.06.082

Simon Roussanaly, Rahul Anantharaman

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.06.082

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Abstract

This paper investigates the cost reduction opportunity of lower CO2 capture ratios (CCR) on membrane-based CO2 capture. A numerical model based on the attainable region approach is used to optimise and assess the cost of membrane-based processes for CO2 capture from post-combustion flue gases containing 10–35% CO2, analysing five membranes and CO2 capture ratios from 50 to 90%. Overall, these cost evaluations demonstrate that membrane-based post-combustion CO2 capture can significantly benefit from lower CCRs (up to 55% reduction in CO2 avoidance cost for a flue gas containing 35% CO2). Considering lower CCRs could therefore enable early deployment of CCS despite low carbon emission cost, however the evaluations show that the optimal CCR and corresponding cost reduction potential shall be assessed considering the whole chain characteristics (CO2 content in the flue gas, impurities, membrane module properties, CO2 transport system, etc.).

Highlights

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is required to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions from both the energy and industrial sectors and reach the 2oC target in a cost efficient manner [1]
In order to investigate this opportunity for cost reduction, a numerical model based on the attainable region analysis proposed by Lindqvist et al [12,13,14] incorporated in SINTEF Energy Research's iCCS tool [15, 16], is used to quantify the impact of lower CO2 capture ratio1 (CCR) and identify the optimal CCRs depending on the CO2 concentration in the flue gas for different membrane alternatives
3.1 The influence of the capture ratio on the CO2 avoided cost The CO2 avoided cost of the membrane-based capture process4 for the five membranes considered at 90% CCR and at their respective cost-optimal CCR are presented in Figure 4 for CO2 concentrations in the flue gas ranging from 10 to 35%

Summary

Introduction

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is required to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions from both the energy and industrial sectors and reach the 2oC target in a cost efficient manner [1]. While several routes are possible to capture CO2 emissions, the post-combustion route appears to be the most promising, as it enables retrofit of CO2 reduction technologies on already operating plants. This feature facilitates CCS to be implemented in a short-term perspective. Complex process configurations are employed to overcome this challenge and meet the system constraints (product purity and capture ratio). This results in multiple complex design decisions in order to minimize the CO2 capture cost. The impact of the inclusion of the CO2 transport infrastructure in the CCR cost-optimisation is investigated and discussed to overcome the limitations of sub-system optimization

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