5. Demo-scale testing of a hybrid membrane-sorbent system for post-combustion CO₂ capture (2022)

Dave Gribble^a, Jerrod Hohman^a, Ambal Jayaraman^a, Thomas Hofmann^b, Jay Kniep^b, Tim Merkel^b, Erik Westling^b, and Gökhan Alptekin_^a,*

^aTDA Research, Inc. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 USA
^bMembrane Technology and Research, Inc., Newark, CA 94560 USA

Original paper available here (ssrn.com) GHGT-16

Abstract

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TDA Research is developing a novel hybrid membrane-sorbent system for the post-combustion capture of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from supercritical pulverized coal (PC) power generation facilities or large point industrial emitters. The novel design incorporates a 1st-stage continuous membrane separator developed by Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. (MTR) with a dual-bed radial-flow sorbent contactor (designed and developed at TDA). Testing of a pilot unit at 1 MWe scale has been conducted at the site for emerging technologies at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) in Mongstad, Norway using residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) flue gas from Equinor’s Mongstad refinery.

A 10-month field demonstration concluded in March 2022—marking the culmination of a 4-year R&D program funded by the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory with a significant cost-share provided by TCM and the TCM ownership group, a joint venture between Gassnova (on behalf of the Norwegian state), Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies. The total operational time on flue gas was 4,001 hours. During that period, the system demonstrated CO₂ capture at or above 90% for 1,789 hours (cumulative) of which 309 hours were at or above 95%. In total, the hybrid membrane-sorbent system processed 1,890 MT of CO₂ at an average capture efficiency of 87.1%—including parametric testing and process upsets.

Prior to the 1 MWe field test, TDA and MTR developed a techno-economic analysis with the assistance of Dr. Ashok Rao and the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The TEA utilized performance data from earlier tests of the system components along with integrated test results obtained at a smaller scale. The analysis indicates that the hybrid membrane-sorbent CO₂ capture system (integrated with a supercritical PC plant) achieves a net plant efficiency of 29.45% (HHV basis)— higher than that achieved by amine-based CO₂ capture system (28.40%; HHV basis). The cost of CO₂ captured (excluding TS&M costs) for the hybrid membrane-sorbent system is estimated at $43.30/tonne which is well below the $56.49/tonne cost for amine-based system (2011 $ basis). The TEA analysis and Aspen Plus® model were developed at APEP without input or oversight from TCM or the TCM ownership group. An updated TEA that reflects the results from the TCM field demonstration and utilizes the latest DOE Revision 4 basis is currently underway.

Keywords: CO₂ capture; post-combustion; adsorbent; membrane-sorbent hybrid, point source emissions; power plant