Post-combustion Capture Research Articles

Solvent-mediated modification of thermodynamics and kinetics of monoethanolamine regeneration reaction in amine-stripping carbon capture: Computational chemistry study.

A major limitation of amine-based post-combustion carbon capture technology is the necessity to regenerate amines at high temperatures, which dramatically increases operating costs. This paper concludes the effect of solvent choice as a possible route to modify the thermodynamics and kinetics characterizing the involved amine regeneration reactions and discusses whether these modifications can be economically beneficial. We report experimentally benchmarked computational chemistry calculations of monoethanolamine regeneration reactions employing aqueous and non-aqueous solvents with a wide range of dielectric constants. Unlike previous studies, our improved computational chemistry framework could accurately reproduce the right experimental activation energy of zwitterion formation. From the thermodynamics and kinetics of the predicted reactions, the use of non-aqueous solvents with small dielectric constants led to reductions in regeneration Gibbs free energies, activation barriers, and enthalpy changes. This can reduce energy consumption and give an opportunity to run desorption columns at relatively lower temperatures, thus offering the possibility of relying on low-grade waste heat as an energy input.

The potential utility of dendritic fibrous nanosilica as an adsorbent and a catalyst in carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG; e.g., CO2) are regarded as the most critical cause of the current global climate crisis. To combat this issue, a plethora of CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies have been proposed and developed based on a number of technical principles (e.g., post-combustion capture, chemical looping, and catalytic conversion). In this light, the potential utility of dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) materials is recognized for specific CCUS applications (such as adsorptive capture of CO2 and its catalytic conversion into a list of value-added products (e.g., methane, carbon monoxide, and cyclic carbonates)) with the highly tunable properties (e.g., high surface area, pore volume, multifunctional surface, and open pore structure). This review has been organized to offer a comprehensive evaluation of the approaches required for tuning the textural/morphological/surface properties of DFNS (based on multiple synthesis and modification scenarios) toward CCUS applications. It further discusses the effects of such approaches on the properties of DFNS materials in relation to their CCUS performance. This review is thus expected to help develop and implement advanced strategies for DFNS-based CCUS technologies.

Design and optimization of a cold energy and waste heat utilization system for LNG-powered ships with post-combustion carbon capture

The introduction of dual-carbon targets has accelerated LNG fuel adoption on vessels and driven the advancement of carbon capture technologies. This study?s aim is a 37000-deadweight tonnage liquified natural gas dual-fuel powered ship, for which chemical absorption carbon capture is applied, utilizing flue gas and liquified natural gas to supply the process?s heat and cold energy. Then a system with efficient utilization of energy and carbon capture for the LNG dual-fuel ship is designed, coupling the waste heat onboard with transcritical CO2 and organic Rankine cycle on the principle of energy cascade utilization. The system is simulated using Aspen HYSYS and the exergy analysis is carried out for this system. Then the working fluid is optimized for the system. After that, through the genetic algorithm, the system?s operating parameters are further optimized. Additionally, the system?s economic analysis is also performed. It is shown that the scheme?s exergy efficiency reaches 39.98%, and the expected cost-recovery cycle is 4.75 years.

DECARBONIZING A THAI COAL POWER PLANT: EFFECT OF FLUE GAS LOADS ON CARBON CAPTURE PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS

Abstract: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the technical and cost implications of retrofitting post-combustion Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in existing coal-fired power plants in Thailand, with a special focus on the Mae Moh plant managed by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). We undertake a detailed analysis using AspenPlus simulation models to determine the optimum capture cost per ton of CO2 and to examine the effects of various flue gas loads on CO2 capture performance and cost-effectiveness. The research reveals a key operational insight: as the flow rate of flue gas increases, the cost to capture a ton of CO2 decreases, indicating economies of scale in CCS operations. Furthermore, the study explores the potential for integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) technology as a renewable energy source, which shows promise in lowering Thailand's power sector emissions and operational costs. By comparing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar PV against conventional coal-fired power generation and considering the country's favorable geographic and climatic conditions, solar PV emerges as an economically viable and environmentally sustainable alternative. The findings of this research aim to inform strategic energy policy decisions in Thailand, advocating for a transition to more sustainable energy systems and emphasizing the balance between environmental responsibility and economic feasibility.

Zinc triazolate oxalate CALF-20 with platelet morphology and its PEBAX-based mixed matrix membranes for CO2/N2 separation.

CALF-20, [Zn2(1,2,4-triazolate)2(oxalate)] shows remarkable performance in post-combustion carbon capture, even under humid conditions1 but its reported crystal morphology hinders its applicability in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Here, a route to its preparation as platelets a few tens of nm thick is reported. These were incorporated into a PEBAX MH1567 polymer matrix and the resultant MMMs display improvement in CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity.

Unveiling the potential of membrane in climate change mitigation and environmental resilience in ecosystem

Carbon capture technologies are becoming increasingly crucial in addressing global climate change issues by lowering CO2 emissions from industrial and power generation activities. Post-combustion carbon capture, which uses membranes instead of adsorbents, has emerged as one of promising and environmentally friendly approaches among these technologies. The operation of membrane technology is based on the premise of selectively separating CO2 from flue gas emissions. This provides a number of different benefits, including improved energy efficiency and decreased costs of operation. Because of its adaptability to changing conditions and its low impact on the surrounding ecosystem, it is an appealing choice for a diverse array of uses. However, there are still issues to be resolved, such as those pertaining to establishing a high selectivity, membrane degradation, and the costs of the necessary materials.In this article, we evaluate and explore the prospective applications and roles of membrane technologies to control climate change by post-combustion carbon capturing. The primary proposition suggests that the utilization of membrane-based carbon capture has the potential to make a substantial impact in mitigating CO2 emissions originating from industrial and power production activities. This is due to its heightened ability to selectively absorb carbon, better efficiency in energy consumption, and its flexibility to various applications. The forthcoming challenges and potential associated with the application of membranes in post-carbon capture are also discussed.

Techno-economic process optimization for a range of membrane performances: What provides real value for point-source carbon capture?

Membranes provide a unique opportunity for heavy industry decarbonization and a real solution requires optimal system design. We use a superstructure process model to minimize capital and operational expenses for post-combustion carbon capture systems. We consider membranes having CO2 permeances between 100 and 5000 GPU and selectivities for CO2 over N2 ranging from 10 to 300. For the four heavy industry-representative cases studied, we find membranes with selectivities approximately above 30 have essentially the same economics. When the permeance of CO2 is above 1000 GPU, and the selectivity is between 20 and 30, we find that membrane systems can achieve low capture costs ($20 to $55 per ton) and high energy efficiencies (150 to 500 kWh per ton). A quantitative relationship between membrane properties and optimized process economics enables effective product development for commercial applications.

Recent advances and challenges in ionic materials for post-combustion carbon capture

The massive combustion of fossil fuels has resulted in excessive emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which has become an urgent environmental problem worldwide. Post-combustion capture technology is one of the most promising carbon capture technologies with rapid growth potential. Ionic materials hold great promise as superior adsorbents for post-combustion capture, offering advantages such as increased adsorption capacity, adjustable adsorption rate, and enhanced operational stability. This review mainly summarized the rational design of pure ionic materials and ion hybrid materials for carbon capture. The relationship between the structural design of materials and the control of capacity, rate, and stability of carbon capture was focused on. A complete description of several emerging ionic materials and their potential for carbon capture is also given. Simultaneously, novel control concepts and rapid screening techniques are introduced. Finally, the article discusses the problems and solutions for the use of ionic materials in future post-combustion capture technology. This work deepens our comprehension of the construction and control of ionic materials, offering valuable insights for the advancement of industrial carbon capture.

A technical and environmental comparison of novel silica PEI adsorbent-based and conventional MEA-based CO2 capture technologies in the selected cement plant

The cement industry accounts for almost 7 % of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions globally. Therefore, it is imperative to identify innovative solutions to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from the cement industry.This study aims to evaluate and compare the technical and environmental aspects of integrating two post-combustion carbon capture processes (CCS) into a cement plant: the conventional monoethanolamine (MEA)-based CCS process and the novel silica-alkoxylated polyethyleneimine (SPEI)-based CCS process. Three scenarios were considered: (i) a reference cement plant without CCS, (ii) the conventional MEA-based CCS system integrated into a cement plant and (iii) the novel SPEI-based CCS system integrated into a cement plant. The technical evaluation results showed that the regeneration energy requirements for the conventional MEA and novel SPEI-based CCS processes were 3.53 GJ/tonne CO2 and 2.36 GJ/tonne CO2, respectively, to achieve a capture rate of 90 %. However, the performance of MEA-based carbon capture processes can be improved by using advanced amine formulations that offer lower regeneration heat requirements at 3.3 GJ/tonne CO2, although this is still higher than the SPEI-based carbon capture processes.The novel SPEI-based CCS process showed superior environmental performance compared to the conventional MEA-based CCS process. The endpoint single score was conducted which showed that the SPEI-based CCS process had a lower impact on human health, ecosystems, and resources (7 %, 9 %, and 26 % lower, respectively) compared to the MEA-based CCS process.

The role of hydrogen in synthetic fuel production strategies

This paper examines the complex relationship between the role of H2, carbon emissions and their impact on global warming and the economy. Despite improvements in energy efficiency, fossil fuel consumption continues to increase. CO2 from industrial activities at high temperatures, such as cement, iron, steel and glass production, have increased rapidly, resulting in an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These emissions accelerate climate change, leading to dangerous consequences such as increasing average atmospheric temperature and decreasing agricultural productivity. To combat this, it is advocated to reduce CO2 emissions by using renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity, biomass, wind solar energy. Current study also discusses carbon reduction methods, including oxy-fuel combustion capture, pre-combustion capture, and post-combustion capture. Despite their unique advantages and disadvantages, these methods play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions from power plants. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of H2 as a cornerstone in the development of synthetic fuels and future energy systems. H2 from renewable sources holds the potential to use carbon-neutral synthetic liquid fuels and revolutionize transportation. Although traditional H2 production methods are associated with emissions, sustainable H2 production techniques can facilitate low-carbon fuel production. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of sustainable energy practices and the role of H2 in reducing carbon emissions, highlighting research efforts to improve production methods, integrate renewable energy, and develop carbon capture technologies for a sustainable future.

Technoeconomic evaluation of post-combustion carbon capture technologies on-board a medium range tanker

The international maritime organization has recently set targets and timelines for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime industry, which currently stand at 1.1 Gt/year and make 3 % of the global emissions. Reducing emissions by increasing engine efficacy is the immediate target, but there is a limit to how much this path can achieve. Onboard post-combustion carbon capture and concentration in large marine vessels is emerging as an interim approach to reduce maritime emissions until large-scale deployment of low/zero emission fuels become viable. In this paper, we evaluate three carbon capture technologies (chemical absorption using either aqueous MEA or aqueous NH3 as the solvent, cryogenic separation, and membrane separation) for a medium-range tanker for two fuels, namely heavy fuel oil and liquefied natural gas. The capture cost per tonne of CO2 (recovery>90 %, purity>95 %) was considered as the assessment criterion, with simultaneous evaluation of other aspects such as energy and space demands. The simulations were carried out using MATLAB and ASPEN V12. For rate-based models, the adjustable parameters for the model were tuned using pilot plant data. Additionally, options for hot and cold energy integration were also assessed and implemented. Based on the reference ship conditions and assessment criteria, the simulation studies show that amine-based absorption is the best prospect for on-board capture by a clear margin.

A comparative life cycle impact assessment for solar heat integration in post-combustion carbon capture

A comparative life cycle impact assessment for solar heat integration in post-combustion carbon capture

Activated hydrochar derived from coconut shell and microalgae through hydrothermal carbonization for the CO2 adsorption

Activated carbon (AC) has proven to be an effective adsorbent for gas and liquid. However, the production of AC involves high energy consumption and the use of limited non-renewable resources as feedstock. In this study, activated carbon was synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at a low temperature using coconut shells and microalgae. The adsorbents were characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine the surface function. The results indicate that the coconut shell activated carbon (CSAC) precursor had a higher yield compared to microalgae-based activated carbon (MAAC). However, the carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake of MAAC at 1.0 bar is 115.4% higher. A combination of algae and coconut shells as feedstock resulted in competitive activated carbon compared to MAAC (7.74 wt% instead of 8.28 wt%). The results of this study suggest that waste biomass hydrochars could be considered as low-cost adsorbents for carbon dioxide removal and that this would be useful in environmental applications for post-combustion carbon capture.

Adsorption-based post-combustion carbon capture assisted by synergetic heating and cooling

Adsorption carbon capture has shown its superiority in energy consumption and cost investment when compared with common amine scrubbing technologies. However, high regeneration energy demand of adsorbents is still a challenge for large-scale application. This paper proposes a temperature vacuum swing adsorption system integrated with auxiliary heating and cooling technology. Absorption chiller and double-stage absorption heat transformer (DAHT) are introduced from the perspective of adsorption and desorption process of CO2 capture system. Results indicate that when the duration of each step increases from 25 min to 45 min, the CO2 recovery rate decreases from almost 100 %–75.7 %, and CO2 purity increases slightly from 89.6 % to 91.1 %. Considering the temperature grade of waste heat, heat consumption of the absorption chiller assisted system is lower than that of DAHT for original and adjusted cases at a generation temperature of 58 °C. If the desorption temperature decreases from 120 °C to 100 °C, heat consumption of the absorption chiller decreases from 1.90 GJ·ton−1 to 1.76 GJ·ton−1, but the average capture capacity decreases from 306.3 ton·ton−1ad to 272.1 ton·ton−1ad. It is demonstrated that both absorption chiller and absorption heat transformer could be promising solutions to reducing the energy consumption of CO2 capture system. Absorption chiller has a priority over DAHT in regions with low temperature heat sources. Moreover, a tradeoff between adsorbent loss and heat consumption should be found when choosing the appropriate heat pump for practical application.

Progress in Post-Combustion Technology for Carbon Dioxide Capture

In the face of climate change and global warming caused by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide released by the combustion of fossil fuels, carbon capture technologies become pivotal for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. Among these carbon capture technologies, post-combustion capture has gained widespread application. In this article, the absorption and adsorption methods in post-combustion carbon capture technology, including the mechanism of the chemical and physical aspects of both methods as well as the absorbents and adsorbent materials used in them, will be specifically introduced. Moreover, the current and potential applications in the field of emissions reduction are also elaborated. These post-combustion carbon capture methods are expected to reduce environmental harm while maintaining energy efficiency, providing an effective solution to the problem of global warming.

Combined pinch and exergy analysis for post-combustion carbon capture NGCC integrated with absorption heat transformer and flash evaporator

Natural gas combined cycle power plant (NGCC) with post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) is a transitional technology for achieving net-zero emissions, but PCC significantly decreased its energy efficiency. In the work, absorption heat transformer and flash evaporator (AHT-FE-aided system) was used to mitigate the energy penalty of NGCC caused by PCC. Subsequently, heat exchange networks (HENs) were constructed for the system, followed by a combined pinch and exergy analysis (CPEA). The results showed that the improved HEN of the NGCC with AHT-FE-aided PCC (proposed system) resulted in 13.4 % less exergy destruction than the NGCC with PCC (reference system). To fully understand the exergy destruction and environmental impact of this system, an exergy distribution analysis and a technical evaluation were conducted. The net energy and exergy efficiency of the proposed system (48.11 %/46.04 %) were 1.73 % and 1.65 % higher than the reference system (46.38 %/44.39 %) respectively. The energy penalty of PCC in the proposed system (8.76 %) was lower than the reference system (11.89 %). In addition, the proposed system decreased fuel consumption by 5.90 g NG/kWh. This study confirms that the AHT-FE-aided system reduces the energy penalty of NGCC caused by PCC, and that CPEA is an effective tool to guide improvements in this area.

Application of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) in Carbon Capture

The rising levels of CO2 are unavoidably connected to climate change and its consequences on atmospheric temperatures throughout the world. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a dependable and practical method for capturing carbon emissions from industry. This article introduces the realms of direct air capture, post-combustion carbon capture, and pre-combustion carbon capture. Furthermore, the paper delves into the fascinating world of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) materials with a high porosity, tunable structures, and exceptional adsorption capacities that can effectively absorb substantial quantities of CO2, qualifying them as promising candidates for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The synthesis methods and performance evaluation of MOF materials concerning carbon capture were introduced. Some of the challenges associated with MOFs are also discussed, including their reduced stability at high temperatures and sensitivity to moisture. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of carbon capture technologies, highlighting the potential of MOFs while addressing current challenges and opportunities in the field.

Cost optimization methodology based on carbon-techno-economic analysis: An application to post-combustion carbon capture process

Recently, a carbon tax has been introduced to encourage emissions reduction, and it has become an additional cost burden. To evaluate the carbon emissions and process costs simultaneously in a single indicator, a carbon-techno-economic analysis (CTEA) methodology that combines carbon tax and process cost was developed in this study. The proposed CTEA model was used to optimize the post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) process, which is an energy- and cost-intensive process. In CTEA optimization, as the carbon tax price increases from $12.5/tonne CO2 to $250/tonne CO2, more energy is provided to the PCC process to increase the carbon capture level from 58.92 % to 99.64 %. This results in a decrease in power generation of the natural gas combined cycle power plant from 462.33 MW to 436.07 MW, and an increase in the incremental cost of electricity from $14.05/MWh to $17.74/MWh. The decrease in profit from CTEA optimization is only 8.75 %, which is relatively smaller than the 11.68 % and 32.32 % decrease in profit from energy and TEA optimization, respectively. The results demonstrate that CTEA-based process optimization is beneficial and highlight the trade-off relationship among carbon tax, process cost, and profit. The results of this study can guide commercial companies in setting operational strategies for their processes as carbon tax prices change and can also assist governments in establishing carbon tax policies to encourage carbon emission reductions in industries.

Breaking The Permeance-Selectivity Tradeoff for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture: A Bio-Inspired Strategy to Form Ultrathin Hollow Fiber Membranes.

Thin film composite (TFC) hollow fiber membranes with ultrathin selective layer are desirable to maximize the gas permeance for practical applications. Herein, a bio-inspired strategy is proposed to fabricate sub-100-nm membranes via a tree-mimicking polymer network with amphipathic components featuring multifunctionalities. The hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes act as the roots that can strongly cling to the gutter layer, the PDMS crosslinkers function as the xylems to enable fast gas transport, and the hydrophilic ethylene-oxide moieties (brushes and mobile molecules) resemble tree leaves that selectively attract CO2 molecules. As a result, a ≈27nm-thick selective layer can be attached to the hollow fiber-supported PDMS gutter layer through a simple dip-coating method without any modification. Furthermore, a CO2 permeance of ≈2700 GPU and a CO2 /N2 selectivity of ≈21 that is beyond the permeance-selectivity upper bound for hollow fiber membranes is achieved. This bio-inspired concept can potentially open the possibility of scalable hollow fiber membranes production for commercial applications in post-combustion carbon capture and beyond.

Techno-Economic Analysis of the Solid Oxide Semi-Closed CO2 Cycle and Comparison With Other Power Generation Cycles With CO2 Capture

Abstract This work presents the techno-economic analysis of the solid oxide semi-closed CO2 cycle (SOS-CO2), a hybrid semi-closed cycle with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) recently developed by Politecnico di Milano for power generation from natural gas with near-zero CO2 emissions. According to previous studies, the cycle is able to achieve an outstanding net electric efficiency of 75.7%. while capturing more than 99% of the generated CO2. All the cycles components, including the fuel cell and the turbine, have been designed and sized with the aim of assessing the performance and the capital cost. The energy and economic key performance indicators are compared with those of two benchmark cycles with CO2 capture: the Allam cycle and a combined cycle with amines. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is performed on the forecasted cost of the natural gas and the SOFC stacks. The results indicate that the specific total capital requirement of the SOS-CO2 cycle (2504 €/kWel) is considerably higher than the Allam cycle (1926 €/kWel) and combined cycle with amines (1981 €/kWel). On the other hand, the SOS-CO2 cycle benefits from its far higher efficiency (74.0% versus 53.9% of the Allam cycle and 52.8% of the combined cycle with amines) which makes the cycle less sensitive to the fuel cost and CO2 tax. In terms of cost of electricity, the SOS-CO2 cycle turns out to be the best technology for natural gas prices above 8 €/GJ, while the Allam cycle appears to be the preferred option at lower fuel prices. For a fuel cost of 12 €/GJ, the SOS-CO2 cycle features a cost of electricity of 106.2 €/MWh, lower than the Allam cycle (119.1 €/MWh) and the combined cycle with amines (126.9 €/MWh).