Net-zero carbon configuration approach for direct air carbon capture based integrated energy system considering dynamic characteristics of CO2 adsorption and desorption

Abstract

Direct air carbon capture (DAC) is a promising negative carbon technology to balance unavoidable carbon emissions from distributed sources. Deploying DAC into the integrated renewable energy system provides an effective way to achieve regional carbon neutrality. Developing a reasonable configuration approach for the DAC-based integrated energy system (IES) is the premise to ensure the stable, flexible, economic and net-zero carbon operation. However, DAC system captures CO2 from the air through adsorption and desorption with a much lower respond speed than other energy generation, conversion and storage equipment in the IES. Meanwhile, the CO2 adsorption/desorption rate varies significantly with time, making the energy consumption of DAC does not fully correspond to the amount of CO2 being captured. Conventional steady-state IES configuration methods fail to reflect such characteristics of the DAC, which may lead to non-optimal or even infeasible configurations. To this end, this paper develops a configuration-oriented dynamic model for the DAC process to correctly reflect the energy consumption characteristics under given internal operating conditions and the variations of the CO2 adsorption/desorption rate over time. The DAC model is embedded into the configuration framework of the DAC-based IES, formulating a novel configuration approach that optimizes the investment, operation and maintenance, carbon reduction and renewables utilization performance. The optimal capacity of DAC and the corresponding time periods for adsorption, desorption and shutdown operation in typical scenario are determined, revealing the coordinated manner of DAC system with other devices within the IES. Case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed configuration approach, which can meet the carbon neutral target with the lowest economic cost. Further comparisons also verify the advantages of flexible operation of the DAC system to achieve better coordination with renewable generations and more efficient CO2 capture.