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CPOTE2022 logo
CPOTE2022
7th International Conference on
Contemporary Problems of Thermal Engineering
Hybrid event, Warsaw | 20-23 September 2022

Abstract CPOTE2022-1072-A

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A critical parametrisation study of the membrane technology integration in an advanced coal-fired power plant

Cristian DINCA, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Romania
Alabid MAYTHAM, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania

In the context of decarbonising economic sectors to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 under the Green Deal package, many technologies have been developed to reduce the risk of not satisfying COP26 targets. Thus, the main aim of this study was to critically evaluate the performance of a 900 MW thermal power plant equipped with post-combustion CO2 capture using membrane technology. The main limitation of this technology is the behavior of polymeric materials in the presence of acid gases or relatively high temperatures, so their lifetime does not exceed five years. The polymer membranes (Spiral Wound in counter-current) used are characterised by a high permeability to CO2: 1000 GPU. Different configurations have been analysed considering one, two, and three membrane steps to identify the best technological option. The use of only one compressor upstream of the membrane to increase the driving force of CO2 separation or the simultaneous use of a compressor and a vacuum pump located downstream of the membrane system was also considered. The analysis of the energy integration of the configurations presented in the coal-fired power plant was studied using different mathematical models developed within the Faculty of Energetics (Polytechnic University of Bucharest) and the CHEMCAD program. By increasing the compression pressure from 1 to 10 bar, the CO2 capture efficiency increases from 5 to 99% was observed for 900 000 m2. The increase in membrane surface area contributes to the increase in efficiency regardless of the compression pressure, but this is more evident the higher the compression pressure. Relatively similar performance can be achieved by integrating a vacuum pump after the membrane system leading to a reduction in the specific surface area of the polymer membrane. By reducing the vacuum pressure from 0.5 to 0.25 bar, the specific surface area can be reduced from 1 500 000 m2 to 900 000 m2 at a power consumption of about 250 MW. The aim of reducing the specific surface area is closely linked to the reduction of electricity production costs. By integrating the CO2 capture process using membrane capture technology, the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of power generation has increased from 75 to 133 €/MWh.

Keywords: Post-combustion CO2 capture, Membrane air separation, Coal-fired power plant, Climate neutrality, Process integration
Acknowledgment: The research leading to these results has received funding from NO Grants 2014 - 2021, under project contract no. 13/2020.