Techno-Economic Evaluation of Solvent Based CO2 Post-Combustion Capture Process Validated with Pilot Plant Data

Abstract

This thesis aims to develop a full techno-economic evaluation of the CO2 capture process using two amine-based solvents. In addition, a pilot plant data were analyzed and used to validate the simulation findings and results. The evaluation of the CO2 post-combustion capture process was carried out using pilot plant data (CSIROAustralia) and ASPEN simulation tools. The results of the simulation demonstrated validity and showed a very good fit with the data received from the pilot plant. Both amine-based solvents (MEA and PZ) proved to be effective in capturing CO2 from the flue gases. The conventional 30 wt. % MEA-based process resulted in a thermal energy requirement of 3.37GJ/ton CO2 with 0.5moles CO2/mole MEA absorption capacity. On the other hand, using a concentrated PZ solution resulted in a thermal energy requirement of 2.5GJ/ton CO2 and an absorption capacity of 0.7moles CO2/mole PZ. The simulation process flow sheet and results were validated using the pilot plant data for both MEA and PZ processes. This validation showed a very good fit (5-15%) considering the amount of CO2 captured, utility requirement, solvent requirement and process operating conditions. The Aspen economic analysis software tool was used to carry out the conceptual process design and detailed economic evaluation. The process design and economic evaluation were used to benchmark the advanced PZ-based process against the conventional MEA-based process. The equipment sizing resulted in similar column heights and diameters. However, both processes resulted in different sizes of the energy related equipment due to the differences in the energy requirement and absorption capacity for both processes. The techno-economic evaluation results showed a close proximity in the capital investment for both technologies. On the other hand, the PZ-based process showed an advantage in the yearly operating cost, which is directly related to the process energy demand. This lower operational cost of the PZ-based process makes it a potential and competitive alternative to the conventional MEA-based capture process.

Date of Award	May 2015
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Mohammad Abu Zahra (Supervisor)