Evaluation of Solid Sorbents as a Retrofit Technology for CO2 Capture
- Ada-Es, Inc., Highlands Ranch, CO (United States)
ADA completed a DOE-sponsored program titled Evaluation of Solid Sorbents as a Retrofit Technology for CO2 Capture under program DE-FE0004343. During this program, sorbents were analyzed for use in a post-combustion CO2 capture process. A supported amine sorbent was selected based upon superior performance to adsorb a greater amount of CO2 than the activated carbon sorbents tested. When the most ideal sorbent at the time was selected, it was characterized and used to create a preliminary techno-economic analysis (TEA). A preliminary 550 MW coal-fired power plant using Illinois #6 bituminous coal was designed with a solid sorbent CO2 capture system using the selected supported amine sorbent to both facilitate the TEA and to create the necessary framework to scale down the design to a 1 MWe equivalent slipstream pilot facility. The preliminary techno-economic analysis showed promising results and potential for improved performance for CO2 capture compared to conventional MEA systems. As a result, a 1 MWe equivalent solid sorbent system was designed, constructed, and then installed at a coal-fired power plant in Alabama. The pilot was designed to capture 90% of the CO2 from the incoming flue gas at 1 MWe net electrical generating equivalent. Testing was not possible at the design conditions due to changes in sorbent handling characteristics at post-regenerator temperatures that were not properly incorporated into the pilot design. Thus, severe pluggage occurred at nominally 60% of the design sorbent circulation rate with heated sorbent, although no handling issues were noted when the system was operated prior to bringing the regenerator to operating temperature. Testing within the constraints of the pilot plant resulted in 90% capture of the incoming CO2 at a flow rate equivalent of 0.2 to 0.25 MWe net electrical generating equivalent. The reduction in equivalent flow rate at 90% capture was primarily the result of sorbent circulation limitations at operating temperatures combined with pre-loading of the sorbent with CO2 prior to entering the adsorber. Specifically, CO2-rich gas was utilized to convey sorbent from the regenerator to the adsorber. This gas was nominally 45°C below the regenerator temperature during testing. ADA’s post-combustion capture system with modifications to overcome pilot constraints, in conjunction with incorporating a sorbent with CO2 working capacity of 15 g CO2/100 g sorbent and a contact time of 10 to 15 minutes or less with flue gas could provide significant cost and performance benefits when compared to an MEA system.
- Research Organization:
- Ada-Es, Inc., Highlands Ranch, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FE0004343
- OSTI ID:
- 1261627
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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