Energy and capital-efficient sorbent-based CO2 capture

Coal-fired utility boilers generate nearly 42% of the electricity in the United States, and are likely to emit more than 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2013. The current state-of- the-art CO2 capture technology, aqueous amine absorption, requires significant capital and parasitic power and can raise LCOE (Levelized Cost of Electricity) by more than 80%. CO2 capture technologies with lower capital requirements and parasitic power are needed to make CO2 capture viable for sequestration and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. Current adsorption-based capture methods have a number of drawbacks including high pressure drops, sorbent attrition, and high parasitic power (for chemical sorbents). The overall goal of this program is to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing novel sorbents that have a significantly lower pressure drop, virtually no attrition losses, and a net CO2 capacity equal to or higher than most current sorbents. Another goal of the program is to develop commercial relationships to enable rapid technology commercialization after the conclusion of Phase I and potential Phase II project. Based on a preliminary economic evaluation we would also demonstrate that the technology, at a commercially relevant scale, has the potential to reduce the increase in LCOE to less than 50%, and to reduce the parasitic power by more than 40% compared to MEA. In the proposed project we would fabricate the materials used for the tests, test the materials with simulated flue gas, model the process using process simulation tools, and do a techno-economic analysis for a 550 MW supercritical pulverized coal power plant. We would also determine the increase in LCOE with CO2 capture, parasitic power requirement, and the CO2 capture cost. If this technology is successful it can have a major 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 & apos;s economic competitiveness. If the captured CO2 is used for enhanced oil recovery it will further reduce our dependence on imported oil.