Process Intensification for Carbon Capture, SBIR Phase II Final Report
- Altex Technologies Corp., Sunnyvale, CA (United States)
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
The need for an economically feasible CO2 capture technology is critical, due to increased global warming from CO2 emissions in the environment, over the years. One approach to reduce the CO2 capture cost, is to share the process capital and energy cost with other unit operations of the power plant. This approach, which is called process intensification, is used in the Altex Integrated Temperature-and-Pressure Swing (ITAPS) process, to produce a low cost CO2 capture technology. Through Phase I and Phase II of this project, Altex Technologies Corporation and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) developed the ITAPS, wherein Altex developed microchannel heat exchangers were washcoated with PSU's advanced molecular basket sorbents (MBSs). By washcoating the MBS on the microchannel heat exchanger, high heat- and mass-transfer rates were obtained. These high rates allowed for quick cycling between CO2 sorption and desorption. This, in turn, led to smaller sorption units, with a lower capital cost than a typical 3-stage Selexol system. Operating costs are also lower than a 3-stage Selexol system, because the Altex system can operate at lower pressures, and doesn't require circulation of a liquid amine sorbent. The Altex system can also be integrated with the power-plant steam loop. The heat of sorption can be used to preheat the boiler feedwater, while the heat of desorption can be used to condense about 50% of the steam-turbine exhaust. This process intensification promotes the economic viability of the Altex process. Under the project, PSU advanced their CO2 MBS material to improve the capacity while Altex demonstrated washcoating this sorbent onto a microchannel heat exchanger, and tested multiple cycles of CO2 sorption/desorption in a bench-scale system. Data from these tests were used to determine the required washcoat thickness, needed to meet the target COE and ensure that this thickness can maintain a high effectiveness. Testing and analysis showed that ITAPS process reduces the TOC and COE by a considerable amount. The lower cost of ITAPS will result in its implementation in the industry, to reduce the CO2 capture cost, and provide environmental benefits to the US and beyond.
- Research Organization:
- Altex Technologies Corp., Sunnyvale, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Contributing Organization:
- EMS Energy Institute, The Pennsylvania State University
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0013823
- OSTI ID:
- 1481837
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase II)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE_DE-SC0009590_II_Final_OSTI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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