Engineering-Scale Demonstration of the Mixed-Salt Process for CO2 CaptureEmail PagePrint Page

Project Information

Prime Performer:SRI InternationalLocation:Menlo Park, CA
Project Duration:07/01/2018 - 03/31/2025Agreement Number:FE0031588
Technology Area:Post-Combustion CaptureTotal Award Value:$21,949,080 
Key Technology:SolventsDOE Share:$17,499,828 
Performer Share:$4,449,252 
Simplified schematic of mixed-salt CO2 capture system at SRI
Simplified schematic of mixed-salt CO2 capture system at SRI

Project Description

SRI International, in partnership with OLI Systems, Inc., Trimeric Corporation, the National Carbon Capture Center, and Baker Hughes, will test their advanced mixed-salt post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption technology at engineering scale (0.5 MWe) to address concerns related to scale-up and integration of the technology in fossil fuel-based power plants. The process uses a non-degradable solvent that combines readily-available, inexpensive potassium and ammonium salt solutions, operates without solvent chilling, and employs a novel flow configuration that has been optimized to improve absorption kinetics, minimize ammonia emissions, and reduce water use compared to state-of-the-art ammonia-based and amine technologies. The objectives of the research project are to: 1) perform integrated mixed-salt process (MSP) testing at engineering scale for long-term periods under dynamic and continuous steady-state conditions with a real flue gas stream to address concerns relating to scale-up and integration of the technology to coal-based power plants; 2) operate the MSP with advanced heat integration to demonstrate advantages in process efficiencies; 3) study the solvent and water management strategies; and 4) collect critically important data for a detailed techno-economic analysis.

Project Benefits

SRI’s ammonia-based CO2 capture technology enables a significant reduction in energy requirements and steam consumption compared to other solvent-based processes, and operation with advanced heat integration methods will further reduce energy usage and improve the process efficiency. More specifically, by operating the absorbers near ambient temperature, solvent chilling energy requirements are reduced, as is water usage and ammonia loss, resulting in reduced operational costs. High-pressure stripping and heat recovery within the regenerator reduces CO2 compression requirements, which lowers both capital and operational costs. This engineering-scale project will pave the way for accelerated full-scale commercial implementation of the advanced MSP for CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants and will enable the technology to achieve U.S. Department of Energy goals.

Predecessor Project(s):

  • FE0012959

Presentations, Papers, and Publications

Contact Information

Federal Project Manager:Krista Hill (krista.hill@netl.doe.gov)
Technology Manager:Ronald Munson (ronald.munson@netl.doe.gov)
Principal Investigator:Dr. Indira Jayaweera (indira.jayaweera@sri.com)