Shell Cansolv CO2 capture technology: Achievement from first commercial plant

Abstract

The first commercial post combustion CO2 capture plant, based on regenerable amine technology, designed by Shell Cansolv was started successfully in Q3, 2013. Subsequently, the plant conceded 72 hrs warranty test run and since then, the CO2 capture plant has been running smoothly. The plant performance met requirements for a successful warranty test run and in most cases results were considerably better than expected. The CO2 capture facility is designed to capture 170 tonnes of CO2/day from a gas-fired boiler's emissions, however, due to boiler limitations, the plant is running at a capacity of 120 tonnes of CO2/day. The capture facility is equipped with a prescrubber followed by an absorber and water wash on the capture side. CO2 was captured using counter current exchange with the Cansolv DC-103 solvent, which was regenerated in the stripper. At normal operation, the average CO2 capture was maintained at around 90%, however, CO2 capture as high as 98% is achieved. The average specific steam consumption over the Performance Test period was noticed as <1.05 kg of steam/per kg of CO2 captured. The average CO2 product purity was greater than 99.0%, more specifically as high as 99.8%. The capture unit is equipped with a semi-batch thermal reclaimer (TR) unit to remove ionic and non-ionic degradation products from DC-103 solvent. The average amine recovery from thermal reclaimer unit was 99.75% with a maximum of 99.8%. The CO2 capture performance, energy consumption, Amine recovery from Thermal Reclaimer, and operational philosophy exercised at the CO2 capture plant will help Shell Cansolv to optimize the design of the CO2 Capture unit further. Learning's from first commercial CO2 capture plant will help Shell Cansolv to successful start-up of upcoming commercial projects.