Amine-impregnated Alumina Solid Sorbent for CO2 Capture

  • Dates: July 2013 – September 2017
  • Leader: CIRCE
  • Grant agreement number: RFCP-CT-2013-00009_ASC2
  • Financied by

     

DESCRIPTION

The project Amine-impregnated Alumina Solid Sorbent for CO2 Capture (ASC2) focuses on these ZEP recommendations for the deployment of CCS in the European Union (EU). The aim of the project is to contribute to increase the experience of pilot plant operation with commercial power plant flue gases and to reduce the energy demand for regeneration (improving the efficiency of power plants with CCS), through full process integration, power plant optimization and high sorbent efficiency for CO2 capture including improved degradation behaviour under different flue gas conditions (effect of other pollutants and oxygen content).

The project covers the sorbent preparation and experimental testing from laboratory to pilot plant scale, with the aims of developing the material production process; demonstrating the technology in the pilot plant scale; assessing the capture process performances and costs; and defining the requirements for the scale-up to commercial power plants in terms of plant design and operation, and energy integration.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of ASC2 project is to demonstrate, through pilot plant operational validation, the feasibility of using amine impregnated alumina solid sorbent as a suitable option to increase CO2 capture efficiency and reduce by 3-4 points the efficiency penalty caused by capture system in the power plant. The proposed technology is of main interest for retrofitting existing plants without dramatic changes to the existing boiler and power cycle.

The ASC2 project has a holistic approach from the laboratory solid sorbent development to the preparation of sorbent for pilot plant operation, pilot plant testing and also includes the scale-up of the concept to commercial coal power plants for both existing and new applications. The main objective of the project is the development and demonstration of new and innovative solid sorbents. New porous materials will be developed in order to obtain the best performances for amine deposition on solid support and for CO2 absorption/desorption cycle. The most effective solution, selected by screening in laboratory tests, will be produced in a suitable quantity (about a ton) and will be tested in a pilot installation fed with the flue gases from a commercial coal-fired power plant.

Specific objectives are:

  • Development of new sorbents with high CO2 loading (up to 50 mg/g sorbent), low regeneration energy requirement (2.5 kJ/kgCO2) and fast reaction kinetics
  • Development of new sorbents which avoid the use of water
  • Reduction or avoidance of thermal and oxidative degradation of sorbents
  • Research about the impact of flue gas contaminants (particulates, sulphur- and nitrous oxides) on the capture process with real flue gases
  • Optimization of heat integration methods to limit impact on the power production process. Conceptual studies, including power plant integration through process and equipment modelling to improve 3-4 efficiency points in capture systems

CIRCE'S ROLE

CIRCE will be in charge of the coordination and supervision of the project during its 3 years of execution, in order to facilitate the communication between partners and to ensure the accomplishment of the periods of time established for each task. In addition, CIRCE will analyze the heat transfer phenomena inside the reactors, will take part in the evaluation of field tests and will develop the process integration optimization as well as the scale up of the concept.

Also, CIRCE will head the dissemination and exploitation of the results achieved in ASC2 project. It will ensure the highest impact of the project, as well as the development of an appropriate structure to guarantee the continuity of the project once it is over.

PARTNERS

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