• Energy Research

Abstract The use of amine scrubbing methods for reducing CO2 emission from burning fossil fuels is growing in popularity. A major challenge of carbon capture methods using amines is high energy consumption. Moreover, the emission of amines from the carbon capture plant gains increasing attention due to environmental concerns. The amines may evaporate from the solution or be released in the form of an aerosol and enter the atmosphere. In order to determine the amines emission, experimental research was conducted using a process development unit. The composition of the gases from the absorber and desorber were measured using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) gas analyser. A solvent blend of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) and piperazine was utilised. Synthetic flue gas containing 12.7–12.9 % vol. (dry basis) of CO2 was directed to the absorber with a flow rate of 100 m3/h. Fresh water was supplied to the top of the absorber to maintain the water balance. No other form of water wash was used. The major components that were emitted together with the treated gas were ammonia and AMP. The produced CO2 contained traces of amine, ammonia and formic acid. The concentration of other degradation products was below the limit of quantification. Increasing the lean solvent temperature by 15 °C resulted in an increase in AMP emission by over 50 ppm. By analysing the vapour pressure literature data with obtained results, the emission was considered mainly as vapour-based. Water dosing at the top of the absorber proved to be effective in reducing amine emissions.

Since fossil fuels still dominate industry and electricity production, post-combustion carbon capture remains essential for decarbonizing these sectors. The most advanced technique for widespread application, particularly in hard-to-abate industries, is amine-based absorption. However, increasing energy efficiency is crucial for broader implementation. This study presents pilot-scale results from the Tauron Power Plant in Poland using a mobile CO2 capture unit (1 TPD). Two innovative process modifications—Split Flow (SF) and Heat Integrated Stripper (HIS)—were experimentally investigated; they achieved a 10% reduction in reboiler heat duty, reaching 2.82 MJ/kgCO2, along with a 36% decrease in overall heat losses and up to a 28% reduction in cross-flow heat exchanger duty. The analysis highlights both the advantages and challenges of these modifications. SF is easier to retrofit into existing plants, whereas the HIS requires more extensive modifications in the stripper section, thus making HIS more cost-effective for new installations. Moreover, as heat consumption constitutes the primary operational cost, even a moderate reduction in heat duty can lead to significant economic benefits. The HIS also offers substantial potential for thermal integration in industries with available waste heat streams. The pilot data underwent validation procedures to ensure reliability, which provides a robust foundation for process modeling, optimization, and scaling for industrial applications.

Photo-thermo-catalytic or PTC purification of process gasses (i.e., air, flue gases, and others) from NOx is presented in this study. A discussion of temperature’s role in photocatalytic NOx removal and the progress of photo-thermo-catalytic reactors for the NOx removal process are presented. Lab- and pilot-scale reactors are described. The impact of temperature on the photocatalytic conversion of hydrocarbons is analyzed with regard to its relation to the photocatalytic selective reduction of NOx (photo-SCR). Another important issue is light transfer in pilot-scale reactors due to the sensitivity of light sources to temperature. Examples of light transfer solutions in photo-thermo-catalytic reactors are presented. Finally, the further development of photo-thermo-catalytic reactors is discussed, including pressurized systems.

Abstract This article presents preliminary results of the methanation process using CO2 from amine scrubbing. The studies were carried out at the CO2-SNG pilot plant. The installation was built by TAURON Wytwarzanie S.A. at the Łaziska Power Plant in Poland. After the commissioning, the Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal (IChPW) was responsible for conducting research. Synthetic methane (SNG) is produced by the reaction of CO2 captured from flue gas (using amine absorption) with H2 obtained from water electrolysis. The methanation reaction takes place in a two-stage catalytic reactor. After the compression the SNG could be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines (CNG). This paper describes in detail the construction of the pilot plant as well as the guidelines for the methanation process. Furthermore, the impact of process gas flow, reactor temperature and system pressure on the conversion of CO2 to methane is presented. The tests were carried out at process gas flows in the range of 9.9–23.0 m3N/h, at pressures of 1.5–3.0 bara and temperatures of 280–350 °C. The maximum obtained CO2 conversion was 98%. The produced SNG consisted of about 82% of methane, 13% of hydrogen and 5% of CO2.