Pilot scale testing of an advanced solvent in a 0.7 MWe post-combustion CO2 capture unit

Abstract

An advanced Amine Promoted Buffer Solution (APBS), APBS-CDRMax® (CDRMax), developed by Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL), was tested at the 0.7 MWe CO2 capture facility at Kentucky Utilities E.W. Brown Generation Station using a heat-integrated two-staged stripping CO2 capture process. The performance of the solvent was evaluated to determine operating conditions that maximized the cyclic capacity of the solvent and results in energy savings. The regeneration energy ranged from 2.9 to 3.3 GJ/ton CO2 with 14 vol % (dry) CO2 inlet and approximately 90 % capture. The difference in the reboiler specific heat duty at stripper pressures of 1.7 and 2.1 bar was minimal as similar amounts of water vapor were observed in the CO2 product stream at stripper outlet. Recycling of product CO2 increased the inlet CO2 concentration to the absorber from 14 to 16 vol% which enhanced mass transfer from the gas to the solvent resulting in about 5 % reduction in the energy of regeneration at the lower stripper pressure. The solvent circulation rate was reduced by about 30 % relative to previous 30 wt% MEA campaign for the CO2 target capture of 90 %. Additionally, the reduced solvent make-up rate of CDRMax shows promise for capital and operating cost savings for post-combustion CO2 capture.