Process for CO2 Capture from Low Concentration Sources

The CO2 capture technologies that use lower capital and parasitic power are needed to make CO2 capture viable and reduce CO2 emissions from coal-based power generation. CO2 capture from dilute sources is an important part of the overall emissions reduction strategy. The current state- of-art CO2 capture technology, aqueous amine absorption, has a number of drawbacks, including significant capital and operating costs. CO2 capture using technologies discussed in this proposal can overcome some of the limitations of aqueous amines for capture from dilute sources, namely very high compression energy and parasitic power needed. The overall goal of this program is to demonstrate the feasibility of an adsorption process for CO2 capture from dilute sources. The process is expected to produce CO2 at a concentration which can be recycled either to an existing CO2 capture process for higher concentration streams or be sequestered after further purification. Another goal of the program is to develop commercial relationships to enable rapid technology commercialization after the conclusion of Phase I and a potential Phase II project. During the project InnoSepra would demonstrate a fast cycle adsorption based process for the removal of moisture and other impurities from the flue gas. InnoSepra would also obtain the CO2 adsorption capacity of reactive sorbents for feed gases containing low CO2 concentrations. Through process simulation and a techno-economic analysis InnoSepra would also demonstrate that the process intensification through a fast cycle adsorption based process for the removal of moisture and subsequent use of reactive adsorption can lead to a significantly lower cost process for CO2 capture from dilute streams compared to aqueous amines and other potential CO2 capture processes. If this technology is successful it can have an important impact on the future of coal-based power generation. We can continue to produce electrical power in a cost-effective way using cheap and abundant coal with significantly lower emissions of greenhouse gases, and without having a significant adverse effect on America's economic competitiveness. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is aimed at demonstrating the low-cost InnoSepra process for CO2 capture from low concentration coal-related CO2 streams by reducing the cost of CO2 capture by more than 60% through reduction in capital and parasitic power. The technology can result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and, when coupled with an existing CO2 capture process, can provide more than 98% removal of CO2 from coal-based power plants.