Technical Feasibility Analysis of a Negative Emissions Beccs System for a Livestock Waste Treatment Plant

Abstract

The share of global greenhouse gas emissions from tertiary sector has increased during the last years and it has finally become a target sector to implement carbon capture and storage technologies. This study analyzes the potential application of a carbon capture system within a livestock waste treatment plant (LWTP). The main target is the technical assessment of the integration possibilities between the post-combustion carbon capture process and a real LWTP which deals with pig manure and corpse cattle. Currently, these wastes are processed to produce energy and their exploitation is regulated by Regulation (CE) no 1069/2009. The currently existing facility is able to cover energy demands (thermal and electric) through a cogeneration engine and a boiler to generate the steam required to sterilize the cattle corpses. The proposed BECCS system must fulfil the requirement of energy demands of the LWTP and be able to generate extra electricity. The carbon capture system is sized to enhance the use of the biogas produced in the LWTP and the design and operation parameters are established to ensure a high capture efficiency and the technical feasibility of the facility. Additionally, a Rankine cycle fed by waste heat from the capture process is sized and implemented to produce electricity and steam to livestock waste treatment process. Different heat integration possibilities are analyzed in the final configuration to increase the steam flow in the Rankine cycle, the self-coverage of thermal demand in the LWTP and the coverage of thermal requirement of the capture process. Lastly, the avoided CO2 emissions are calculated with respect to the current LWTP configuration.