Design and analysis of CO2 capture, transport, and storage networks

The large-scale deployment of carbon capture, transport and storage (CCTS) systems will be capital intensive and complex. Therefore, it is necessary to design a network infrastructure that can meet a specific CO₂ reduction target and is at the same time optimized to minimize cost and operation problems. The objective of this work is to develop a multiscale modeling approach that uses flue gas characterization data as an input to simulate and size a post-combustion capture plant model. The profile of the bare capturing cost of CO₂ against degree of capture is used in designing and analyzing the cost optimal CO₂ infrastructure layout that matches CO₂ sources and sinks in capacity and time. This will help generate insights of whole-system integration issues and its performance as function of design variables: Thus the whole system is optimized rather than optimizing individual components, which leads to sup-optimal CCTS design. Typically, researchers assume a cost associated with a pre-specified 90% degree of capture, which is claimed to be the cost optimal capture plant. The results of designing and analyzing cost optimal CCTS networks for a UAE case study show that the cost optimal degree of capture is a site specific factor that depends on the flue gas characteristics and proximity to transportation networks and geological storage that can accommodate certain amount of CO₂ per year.