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Overview of Current Directions in Carbon Capture R&D
R. Munson
Global CCS Institute, US
Keywords: carbon capture
Summary:
Future carbon capture R&D efforts need to focus on cost reductions. These efforts will target three main areas: materials, processes, and equipment. Materials R&D will involve development of higher-performance solvents, sorbents, and membranes. That could mean materials with enhanced separation kinetics, lower stripping energy requirements or enhanced permeability/selectivity. Process improvements can include heat integration to improve efficiency in both the capture system and the associated facility. Process intensification involves coupling of two or more processes within a single vessel - reducing capital costs and, potentially, energy requirements. Equipment development activity focuses on novel designs that allow for size reduction and energy efficient processing (e.g., enhanced contacting between the capture medium and flue gases). Advanced manufacturing techniques promote the construction of heat transfer surfaces that are more efficient and allow for greater process integration. Finally, novel equipment designs that take advantage of technologies not previously pursued for gas separation (eg. rapid expansion of high pressure gases facilitating cryogenic separation) are being investigated. This approach would result in very significant size, and thus capital cost, reduction. This presentation will provide an overview of these R&D areas along with illustrative examples.
