Compact and High Throughput Modular Unit For Carbon Capture On Ships

Problem being addressed: The transport sector accounts for 24 % of CO2 emissions, and thus is a significant part of global decarbonization efforts. Although battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are promising alternatives for emissions mitigation, heavy-duty overland transportation and long-range marine transportation remain hard to decarbonize. CO2 capture from mobile sources presents unique technical challenges relative to stationary point sources including space and weight requirements, on-board CO2 storage and variable exhaust conditions. Approaches: A compact, high throughput, and modular CO2 capture unit is proposed for the onboard capture in combination with CO2 usage and onboard electricity generation. The new capture unit is based on MWIĺs recent innovation of adsorption and heat exchange (AHX) reactor technologies that are of large potential to reduce both capital and operating costs for onboard CO2 capture application. The unique performance features of the AHX modular unit includes 1) high throughput and compactness with significant reduction to the unit size and footprint; 2) usage of low grade waste heat for regeneration and significant reduction to process complexity and operating costs; 3) rapid response to process condition changes for quick turn-around and dynamic operation; 4) enhancement of operating safety with effective temperature control, 5) no solvent or secondary environmental emissions, and 6) the scaleup of the AHX modular equipment by numbering up. Process designs and technoeconomic analysis will be conducted to use the AHX modular vessel for onboard CO2 capture and utilization in combination of usage of the oxygenate fuels. What is to be done in Phase I: The phase I objective is to develop basic process design and conduct feasibility study of the AHX capture unit for CO2 capture on ships at flue gas exhaust rate of 700 kg/min. Two CO2 disposal methods will be considered for their integration with the AHX capture unit. The one method is compression and liquification of the captured CO2 that can be discharged on the port where the CO2 can be utilized. The second method is onboard electrochemical conversion of captured CO2 back to oxygenated fuels with onboard electricity. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Onboard CO2 capture in long-range ships appears to be a promising application case for the AHX modular vessel. Completion of the proposed project work would help reduction of technical risks with new capture technology for future development and commercialization, and identification of promising equipment and/or process methods for substantial reduction to CO2 emissions from mobile sources by using renewable oxygenated fuels instead of fossil-derived fuels.