The carbon capture technology used in industrial/thermal generation processes is known to consume 20-30% of the energy that is generated by power plant itself for the auxiliary energy needs. This auxiliary energy was needed for various elements of capture system viz. pumps, fans, compression and regeneration of amine solution etc. While some of the energy used is directly in the form of electric energy such as for pumping, drought fans, compressor etc. and some of the energy needs are in the form of thermal energy for processes like regeneration. Can anyone provide the segregation of the energy requirement i in terms of electrical and thermal energy? Any inferences and references would be greatly appreciated.
The energy required to remove 1 kg CO2 by MEA absorber ranges from 0.11 – 4.0 MJ/kg CO2 depending on the MEA absorber's operating conditions (temperature & pressure), absorption column height, CO2 concentration in the flue gas from the fossil-fired power plant, MEA solution concentration and flow rate.
The high energy requirements to remove 1 kg of CO2 represents of several externalities associated with CO2 capture and storage technologies (CCS) like the MEA technology.
Hope this helps!
Hello Ken - Thank you for asking this question. Please see below my response:
After CO2 is captured by MEA technology, it can be stored and or utilized using different technologies such as the following:
1) Reacting captured CO2 gas with calcium oxide (CaO) to produce calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
2) Use captured CO2 gas in the so-called enhanced oil recovery (EOR) where captured CO2 is injected into existing oil wells to improve oil recovery.
3) Use captured CO2 gas as a feedstock for algae growth. Algae consume CO2 for normal growth during photosynthesis. Then, algae can be converted into biodiesel.
4) Captured CO2 gas can react with H2O in the presence of UV radiation and a catalyst to produce biomass which can then be converted into biofuels such as bioethanol.
5) The captured and compressed CO2 gas can be stored in formations deep below the seabed.
6) Convert CO2 gas into ice (called the gray ice) which can then be stored deep in the ocean.
7) Store compressed CO2 into empty caverns which are characterized by impermeable rocks to prevent CO2 leakage over time.
8) Since probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) and risk management are part of my portfolio of research interests, there are some potential human safety and environmental concerns of storage CO2 with as compressed gas in underground caverns or as gray ice in formations deep below the seabed.
Hope this helps answer your question.
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