Optimizing the start-up process of post-combustion capture plants by varying the solvent flow rate

Abstract

This paper presents an optimization of the start-up process of a post-combustion carbon capture plant (PCC-plant) by varying the solvent flow rate. In a first optimization run the start-up time is minimized. In a second optimization run the overall carbon capture rate during the start-up pro-cess is maximized. The results show the great potential of the optimization, as the start-up time can be reduced from ∆t = 4650 s in the reference case to ∆t = 2840 s in the optimized scenario.