Hydrophobic Carbon Capture Solvent

Fri, 12/01/2017 - 12:00

USPN 10,589,228

Opportunity

Research is active on the design and synthesis of a new carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture solvent based on PEG-Siloxane. Unlike conventional gas-removal solvents, the NETL’s new solvent technology is hydrophobic and has a low vapor pressure. A hydrophobic solvent with low vapor pressure is highly advantageous because it can reduce the cost and energy-consumption associated with CO₂ capture by simplifying solvent regeneration and negating the need to remove water from fuel gas. For example, this solvent operates above room temperature and can be regenerated using low-grade and waste heat, whereas commercially available solvents operate below room temperature and can’t be regenerated using low-grade or waste heat This technology is available for licensing and/or further collaborative research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Overview

Unlike pre-combustion CO₂ capture technologies currently employed at integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems, NETL’s PEG-Siloxane-based solvent is hydrophobic and has a low vapor pressure. Traditional solvents must operate at below room temperature, which requires the use of a chiller, and rely on a pressure-swing process to be regenerated. Both of these processes consume electricity, whereas the NETL patented solvent can operate at above room temperature and can be regenerated using waste/low-grade heat. This can result in a savings of approximately 50 MW at a 500 MW IGCC-CCS power plant.

Traditional carbon capture solvents may also suffer from foaming, which can significantly reduce the mass transfer of CO₂ into the solvent because foaming requires that the absorber be operated at lower gas flow velocities. The novel NETL solvent reduces the tendency to foam under these conditions, which may help to keep capital costs for the absorber to a minimum.

Significance

Increases the output electricity by roughly 10% at an IGCC-CCS power plant
Potentially lowers the capital cost of capturing CO₂ in an IGCC-CCS power plant
Offers a hydrophobic alternative to water-miscible solvents
Absorbs as much CO₂ and as little water and hydrogen (H₂) as possible at temperatures above 40 °C
Shows higher CO₂/H₂ selectivity at working conditions than widely used solvents
Maintains very low viscosity at working temperatures
Displays low volatility and high thermal stability
Exhibits reduced foaming tendencies when exposed to flowing gas

Applications

Pre-combustion CO₂ separation and capture at IGCC-CCS
Generation of H₂ from reformed natural gas or from syngas
Adjustment of CO/H₂ ratio for Coal and Biomass to Liquids
Removal CO₂ from syngas for Coal and Biomass to Ammonia/Fertilizer
Natural gas sweetening
Storage of light gases (carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide)

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