Membrane-Integrated Sorbent Adsorption Process for Carbon Capture

The electricity produced from fossil fuels is essential to the worlds prosperity and security. On the other hand, increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration caused by the fossil fuel combustion are causing concerns regarding global warming. Although there are several methods for separating CO2 from the flue gases at existing coal-fired power plants, all of them have significant drawbacks, including loss of efficiency and increased capital and operating costs that dramatically increase the cost of electricity. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA), in collaboration with Membrane Technology Research Corporation and the University of California, Irvine proposes to develop a low cost, high capacity sorbent that will integrate into a membrane-sorbent hybrid post-combustion carbon capture system to remove CO2 from coal-fired power plant effluents. In Phase I, we will carry out extensive process simulation work to identify the optimum operating conditions for membrane and sorbent sub-systems. Based on the modeling results we will evaluate the performance of our CO2 adsorbent under representative conditions. Using the most recent data for membrane and sorbent, we will carry out a detailed design of the membrane-sorbent hybrid CO2 capture system, estimate its size and cost. In an engineering assessment we will compare its benefits to alternative processes. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: CO2 is a major greenhouse gas and the most dominant source for the anthropogenic CO2 emissions. It is a by-product of the combustion of fossil fuels, in particular burning coal for generating electricity. The proposed technology will provide a cost effective way to control CO2 emissions from the existing and new coal-fired power plants. There will be a large market when legislation limiting or taxing carbon emissions is put in place.