Three Years of Working Experience with Different Solvents at a Realistic Post Combustion Capture Pilot Plant

Abstract

Abstract A test facility for the investigation of the CO 2 post combustion process named CO 2 SEPPL (acronym for CO 2 SEParation Plant) was erected in 2010 by EVN and ANDRITZ Energy & Environment at the EVN power plant station in Durnrohr (Austria). Since the test facility has an absorber height on an industrial scale and operates with flue gas of a natural gas- or coal-fired boiler, realistic results can be achieved. The pilot plant is designed for a flue gas flow rate of 100 m 3 /h STP . The test facility allows a variation of many operating parameters. A sensitivity analysis was carried out for each solvent. In addition to the standard solvent 30 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA), other aqueous solvents were investigated. Separation using aqueous solutions of the amines piperazine (PZ) and ethylenediamine (EDA) enables significant energy savings compared to 30 wt% MEA. In order to reduce emissions of harmful substances, absorbents with very low or non-existent vapor pressure were tested (sodium glycinate). These investigated solvents have a high energy demand because of poor mass transfer and slow kinetics. Experimental results are explained on the basis of physical/chemical solvent data and technical specifications of the pilot plant.