Technology Centre Mongstad Research Articles

Results from MEA Degradation and Reclaiming Processes at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

In 2015, the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM DA), operated a test campaign using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent at 30 wt%. The main objective was to demonstrate and document the performance of the TCM DA Amine Plant located in Mongstad, Norway. As part of the test campaign, thermal reclaiming was performed in order to eliminate accumulated degradation products and improve the solvent performance. This paper presents results and discussions concerning formation and monitoring of amine degradation products along with experiences related to the thermal reclaiming process and its operational procedure. Evaluations of the efficiency of thermal reclaiming and the solvent improvement after reclaiming are also presented.

Results from MEA Amine Plant Corrosion Processes at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

In 2015, the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM DA), operated a test campaign using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent at 30 wt%. The main objective was to demonstrate and document the performance of the TCM DA Amine Plant located in Mongstad, Norway. During the test period TCM DA monitored several indicators for corrosion, as well as analyzed corrosion coupons exposed to rich and lean solvent during the campaign. The results indicate unacceptable levels of corrosion for S235, coarse general corrosion for Inconel 600, and acceptable levels of corrosion for SS304L, SS316L, 22 Cr duplex SS, Stellite 6, Stellite 12 and EPDM. Some pitting was however observed on 316L stainless steel. No stress corrosion cracking was found on SS304L and SS316L.

Degradation and Emission Results of Amine Plant Operations from MEA Testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

In 2015, the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM DA), operated a test campaign using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent at 30 wt%. The main objective was to demonstrate and document the performance of the TCM DA Amine Plant located in Mongstad, Norway. This paper will present several aspects concerning degradation of the solvent and atmospheric emissions from amine based CO2 removal processes. The work aims to; (1) quantify the amounts and compositions of the degraded solvent (2) report results from atmospheric emissions measurements of amines and amine based degradation products; and (3) present Ambient Air measurement done during a 2 month campaign.

Results from 30 wt% MEA Performance Testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

In 2015, the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM DA), operated a test campaign using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent at 30 wt%. The main objective was to demonstrate and document the performance of the TCM DA Amine Plant located in Mongstad, Norway. The main elements were: verifying mass balances over the capture plant, revise the performance baseline from 2014, challenge the plant capacity, investigate mist/aerosol induced emission to the air and parameter variation in order to further stretch the plant performance. The current paper presents an overview of the campaign and reports on mass balance and plant performance.

Dynamic Process Model Development and Validation with Transient Plant Data Collected from an MEA Test Campaign at the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad

This work focuses on the development and validation of a dynamic process model of the post-combustion CO2 chemical absorption process with temperature swing absorption (TSA) using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) as solvent. A new set of steady-state and transient cases were generated during an MEA test campaign at the amine pilot plant at CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM DA). Nine steady-state cases comprising a wide range of operating conditions of the plant and two transient tests consisting of flue gas volumetric flow rate step-changes were utilized for the purpose of dynamic process model validation of the overall pilot plant process model. It is concluded that the dynamic process model is capable of estimating the absorber and stripper columns temperature profiles with good accuracy after tuning of model parameters. An over-prediction of the model for lean and rich CO2 loadings has been reported, being mean percentage errors <1.5% for lean loading and <6.7% for rich loading. In addition, an under prediction of CO2 product flow rate has been observed (<5%). The process model is capable of predicting the variability of lean and rich loadings for the range of steady-state operating conditions. The main process dynamics of the pilot plant under flue gas volumetric flow rate set-point step changes is captured by the process model.

Results from Aerosol Measurement in Amine Plant Treating Gas Turbine and Residue Fluidized Catalytic Cracker Flue Gases at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

This work discusses the relation between flue gas particle content, mainly related to sulfuric acid aerosols and dust, and corresponding MEA emissions. The work lays grounds for future necessary pre-treatment options for various flue gases with high aerosol content in order to operate post-combustion amine plants with minimum emissions.In 2015, the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM DA), operated a test campaign using aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent at 30 wt%. The main objective was to demonstrate and document the performance of the TCM DA Amine Plant located in Mongstad, Norway. Two weeks were dedicated to the aerosol measurement testing.

Results from MEA Testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad: Verification of Baseline Results in 2015

In 2015, the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM DA) operated a post-combustion CO2 capture test campaign using aqueous monoethanolamine solvent at 30 weight%. The main objective was to demonstrate and document the performance of the TCM DA amine plant located in Mongstad, Norway.During the treatment of flue gas from the natural gas-fired combined heat and power plant at Mongstad, a revised baseline was established for the TCM DA amine plant in accordance to the verification protocol developed by the Electrical Research Institute, Inc. This paper presents the revised baseline, which can be considered as a reference case for the solvent-based CO2 capture processes applied to natural gas-based flue gases.

The Global Perspective

The International Test Center Network (ITCN) was established in 2012 as collaboration between Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM), in Norway, and the National Carbon Capture Center, in the United States. Here Frank Morton, Consulting Engineer for Southern Company Services, talks to Greenhouse Gases Science and Technology about the ITCN's vision, how it believes that global collaboration is the best way to take the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology forward, and what its plans are for the future.

Aerosol Measurement Technique: Demonstration at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

There are two main routes for amine emission. The first one is connected to volatile amine emission. The second route is amine emission via aerosols. Recently, it has been observed that under certain conditions and at specific test locations significant aerosol formation and emission can occur. To distinguish between the two routes for amine emission, a novel methodology has been developed. This methodology is based on the separation of the aerosols from the vapour phase in a controlled isothermal modus. To be able to do this, the design of the probe and the sampling procedure should fit to the operational circumstances and is of crucial importance to guarantee isokinetic sampling. The separation of the aerosols is done via an impactor. Using an impactor, not only the total mass of aerosols can be determined, but also the size distribution.At the end of 2013 and at the beginning of 2014, two aerosol measurement campaigns were performed at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad, Norway. The measurements indicate that small amounts of aqueous aerosols with a broad aerosol size distribution are present in the flue gas stream from gas turbine operations. The presence of aqueous aerosols does not necessarily imply significant amine emission from the amine process. Analysis of the aqueous aerosols indicates low amine content present in the aerosol fractions, and it seems evident that amines present in the gaseous phase inside the absorber column have not been transferred to the aqueous aerosols and by such the total amine emissions are very low.

A theoretical study of the reaction kinetics of amines released into the atmosphere from CO2 capture

Amine solvents used in CO2 capture technologies result in the release of compounds such as nitrosamines and nitramines to the atmosphere. The reaction kinetics of monoethanolamine and the resulting degradation amines, methylamine and dimethylamine, are studied using transition state and collision theory. A simplified amine atmospheric chemistry scheme and three types of reactions,—with barrier, without a barrier and a photolysis reaction—are considered using geometric, energetic and thermodynamic data derived from quantum chemistry and kinetic modelling. The rate coefficients obtained are in excellent agreement with existing experimental and theoretical values. These coefficients are used within the Amine Chemistry Module of the atmospheric dispersion model ADMS 5 to solve the advection-dispersion-chemical equations. A case study on the Technology Centre Mongstad is conducted to estimate the dispersion, chemical transformation and transport pathways of these amines away from the emitting facility. Reliable estimates of the concentrations of the resulting nitrosamines and nitramines are determined and compared to safety guideline values to establish the risk these discharges may pose on the environment. This study illustrates the theoretical methodology developed and its implementation within the ADMS 5 atmospheric dispersion model, which can be used at any amine based CO2 capture facility regardless of its geographical location.

Chilled Ammonia Process at Technology Center Mongstad – First Results

According to the latest IEA report, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) from fossil fuel fired power plants is a key option to mitigate CO2 emissions in the 450 scenario. In addition it is the only technology capable of large CO2 emission reduction from industrial applications and in combination with biomass firing the only currently available technology for reducing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere by means of negative emission performance. Alstom develops CCS technologies for post- combustion and oxy-combustion, and have shown that these technologies can compete with renewable power generation on the basis of Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCoE). It is now essential that governments give the same priority to CCS as to renewables in order for large demonstration plants to be built, a necessary step in the development of the technology. The Norwegian Government, through its special purpose company Gassnova, is at the forefront of making this happen by construction of the world's largest test site for Carbon Capture. The Technology Center Mongstad (TCM) is owned by Gassnova, Statoil, Shell and Sasol. The unique location of TCM, next to the Mongstad refinery, provides interesting opportunities in terms of gases to be treated. The plant at TCM is designed to treat both refinery off-gas from a cracker operation as well as the exhaust from a gas turbine based combined heat and power plant. In addition, the captured CO2 can be recycled to achieve any CO2 concentration between 4 and 13% by volume. The Alstom Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) is post-combustion technology that captures CO2 emitted from power plants or industrial sources. Deployment of this technology requires operating data and validated simulation tool for design that can evaluate various CAP configurations to achieve the lowest possible capital cost, energy demand and operating cost. A special focus will be directed to the CAP Installation at TCM, which was commissioned in 2012. The plant is designed to treat both refinery off-gas from a cracker operation as well as the exhaust from a gas turbine based combined heat and power plant.This paper will report on the first results of Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) as part of Alstom's development program of commercial solution for carbon capture, at Technology Center Mongstad in 2012.

Results from MEA testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad. Part II: Verification of baseline results

Abstract Independent verification protocol (IVP) work has been conducted at the CO 2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM DA) during treatment of flue gas from a natural gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The testing applied an aqueous 30 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent system treating flue gases with a flow rate of about 47.000 Sm 3 /hr and a CO 2 content of about 3.5%. The CO 2 capture rate was about 90% and the thermal steam consumption was about 4.1 GJ/t CO 2 . Emissions of MEA were very low and MEA-related degradation products were all below detection levels, and all within the emission limits set by the Norwegian environmental authorities. The current work may be considered an independently verified baseline for a non- proprietary post-combustion amine based solvent system carried out at an industrial-scale plant facility. Long-term performance indices, such as material corrosion, MEA solvent degradation, etc., have not been considered in the current IVP work. Additional minor process adaption to the aqueous MEA solvent system, such as increased MEA concentrations, the use of anti-foam solutions, etc., may lead to lower thermal steam consumptions than aforementioned.

Results of Amine Plant Operations from 30 wt% and 40 wt% Aqueous MEA Testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

Abstract An amine plant campaign has been performed at the CO 2 Technology Centre Mongstad applying the aqueous 30 wt% and 40 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent systems for treatment of flue gas from a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. CHP flue gas flow rates were ranging from about 40.000 Sm 3 /h to 60.000 Sm 3 /h and the CO 2 content was about 3.5 vol%. Minimum specific reboiler duties (SRD) of respectively 4.0 MJ/kg CO 2 and 3.7 MJ/kg CO 2 were obtained for the aqueous 30 wt% MEA solvent system without and with the addition of anti-foam solution. A minimum SRD of 3.4 MJ/kg CO 2 was obtained for the aqueous 40 wt% MEA solvent system. Lower SRD and absorber liquid to gas (L/G) ratios were obtained with higher concentration MEA solvents. Increased absorber packing heights resulted in lower SRD. Variation in flue gas supply flow rates and corresponding variations in solvent flow rates, i.e. constant L/G ratios, did not yield any significant variations in SRD. Decreased flue gas supply temperatures resulted in lower SRD. For any future large scale post-combustion capture (PCC) amine plant, engineering aspects such as the flue gas supply temperature and instrumentation monitoring CO 2 content in the flue gas must be evaluated to avoid the chemical equilibrium pinch behavior. Engineering and environmental aspects related to the use of anti-foam solutions for future large scale PCC amine plants must also be considered.

Results from MEA testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad. Part I: Post-Combustion CO2 capture testing methodology

This paper lays out a generic CO2 capture testing methodology that has been applied at multiple sites providing details on the procedure, its key performance indices and their associated specifications, as well as the required pre-test work. Specific application of the methodology for the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad site, a CO2 capture testing facility located in Norway that performed CO2 capture tests using MEA, is shown as an illustrative example.

Results from Testing of Aker Solutions Advanced Amine Solvents at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

Abstract The overall objective of the test program at CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM DA) is to verify Aker Solutions’ Advanced Carbon CaptureTM process including two proprietary advanced amine solvents, ACCTM-solvents S21 and S26. Also a short benchmark campaign is conducted with 30% MEA solvent in order to establish a reference. Key performance results are presented for MEA, S21 and S26. Close to 10 000 hours of operation of the TCM DA amine plant was obtained in the three campaigns, with high availability, showing that there are no operational issues related to the S21 and S26 solvents. Optimum SRD for 30 wt% MEA was found to be 3.8 MJ/kg CO2 when capturing CO2 from CHP gas with CO2 concentration 3.4-4.0% and CO2 capture rate of 87%. SRD was found to be approximately 10% lower for ACCTM advanced solvents S21 and S26. SRD values down to 3.4 MJ/kg CO2 was obtained for CHP flue gas with CO2 concentrations below 4 vol% and 87% capture without heat integration or use of ACCTM Energy Saver. Emissions to atmosphere using ACCTM emission control system were shown to be very low for solvent amines and alkyl amines, with measured levels below 0.1 mg/Nm3 in total. Emission of nitrosamines and nitramines were all below analytical detection limits typically around 0.1 μg/Nm3. Solvent amine losses have been quantified to approximately 2.6 kg amine/ton CO2 captured for MEA, 0.5-0.6 kg amine/ton CO2 captured for ACCTM advanced solvent S21, and 0.2-0.3 kg amine/ton CO2 captured for ACCTM advanced solvent S26. Successful reclaiming of ACCTM advanced solvents S21 and S26 was performed towards the end of the campaigns. Reclaiming was performed for validation purposes and not due to any indications of critical loss of solvent performance, high emissions, high viscosity or other operational problems that could be an indication of excessive degradation. No operational problems such as precipitation or fouling were encountered during reclaiming. HSS and most impurities and degradation products were removed from the solvent by more than 80%.

Emission Results of Amine Plant Operations from MEA Testing at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

Abstract Extensive atmospheric emission monitoring has been conducted at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM DA) during amine based post-combustion CO2 capture. The TCM DA amine plant was operated with an aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent system, treating flue gas from a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Emission monitoring was conducted by a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy analyzer, a Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (PTR-TOF- MS) analyzer, and manual isokinetic sampling followed by off-line analysis in the laboratory. Atmospheric emissions of MEA were very low throughout the entire campaign, ranging from a few to a few hundred parts per billion (ppb, 1 ppb = 10-9 v/v). Atmospheric emissions of MEA amine based degradation products such as nitrosamines and nitramines were below detectable levels. Atmospheric emissions of ammonia (NH3) were in the low ppm range. Methylamine was emitted at low ppb range. Absorber wash water sections were found to effectively reduce atmospheric emissions from amine based solvent system.

Real-Time Monitoring of Emissions from Monoethanolamine-Based Industrial Scale Carbon Capture Facilities

We demonstrate the capabilities and properties of using Proton Transfer Reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) to real-time monitor gaseous emissions from industrial scale amine-based carbon capture processes. The benchmark monoethanolamine (MEA) was used as an example of amines needing to be monitored from carbon capture facilities, and to describe how the measurements may be influenced by potentially interfering species in CO2 absorber stack discharges. On the basis of known or expected emission compositions, we investigated the PTR-ToF-MS MEA response as a function of sample flow humidity, ammonia, and CO2 abundances, and show that all can exhibit interferences, thus making accurate amine measurements difficult. This warrants a proper sample pretreatment, and we show an example using a dilution with bottled zero air of 1:20 to 1:10 to monitor stack gas concentrations at the CO2 Technology Center Mongstad (TCM), Norway. Observed emissions included many expected chemical species, dominantly ammonia and acetaldehyde, but also two new species previously not reported but emitted in significant quantities. With respect to concerns regarding amine emissions, we show that accurate amine quantifications in the presence of water vapor, ammonia, and CO2 become feasible after proper sample dilution, thus making PTR-ToF-MS a viable technique to monitor future carbon capture facility emissions, without conventional laborious sample pretreatment.

Health risk analysis for emissions to air from CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

A health risk analysis for the emissions to air from the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) has been executed. TCM is the world's largest facility for testing and improving technologies for CO2 capture, and is located at the West coast of Norway. The risk analysis was an important fundament for the application for an emission permit for the amine based post-combustion CO2 capture unit. The highest risk was assessed to be the exposure of the population to uncertain concentrations of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and drinking water. Nitrosamines and nitramines are groups of possible degradation products formed from amines. The components within these two groups have variable degrees of carcinogenicity. Nitrosamines are formed from amines in the CO2 capture process and in the atmosphere, while nitramines are assumed to form only in the atmosphere. The risk was analyzed by comparing the sum of concentrations of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and fresh water with recently available guidelines. The concentrations were obtained by modelling atmospheric chemistry, dispersion, deposition by precipitation and degradation in fresh water with novel methods that were developed during the application process. Moreover, the nitrosamine and nitramine concentrations were measured in air and fresh water lakes prior to start-up as a baseline. TCM's conclusion was that the risk was acceptable. The Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency granted TCM a permit in November 2011.

Technology Centre Mongstad: the world's largest facility for testing and improving CO2 capture technologies

AbstractTechnology Centre Mongstad (TCM) in Norway is the world's first facility dedicated to the testing and development of carbon capture technology of flue gases from both a gas‐fired power plant and a refinery. TCM Managing Director Tore Amundsen spoke to Muriel Cozier about what makes TCM so unique.

Establishment of Knowledge base for Emission Regulation for the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad

The CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) is currently regarded as the world's largest CO2 capture technology test centre at 100 000 ton/year of CO2 capture capacity. The main aim of the project was to play an important role in the establishment of proven and cost efficient CCS (CO2 capture and storage) value chains. At first two technologies are tested, namely and amine plant (designed by Aker Clean Carbon) and a chilled ammonia plant (designed by Alstom) which is fed with two different flue gas sources. The latter will, by normal composition as well as CO2 recycle design, allow for a large band of CO2 concentrations available to the various technologies. In principle, the two flue gas sources along with the recycle steam will allow to simulate flue gasses from both gas- as well as coal fired applications.The work presented here aims to discuss and introduce the interaction between the Norwegian Climate- and Pollution Agency (Klif) and TCM. The importance of these activities are highlighted by the challenges faced to ensure safe emissions levels in order to allocate the emissions and discharge permit and subsequent regulatory measures associated with this permit. Large uncertainties regarding worst case assumptions for emissions from the TCM amine plant had to be addressed in order to deduce safe levels for amine degradation products, like nitrosamine and nitramines. The latter are known carcinogens with variable carcinogenic properties. Thus, a two-folded approach was taken by firstly addressing the knowledge gap towards amine degradation products and their respective impact on health and environment. Secondly, close cooperation with Klif was required to establish relevant regulation for the CO2 capture facility.In November 2011, an emission and discharge permit for TCM was approved by Klif. Regulatory levels for amines, ammonia, aldehydes and other flue-gas related species were depicted in the permit, both on immediate concentration levels as well as permitted annual levels and wider environment deposition concentrations. The paper concludes by looking at the first set of measured emissions parameters from the amine plant at TCM and considers the results in relation with the initial risk assessments associated with the permit.