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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/N024613/1
Title Versatile Adsorption Processes for the Capture of Carbon Dioxide from Industrial Sources - FlexICCS
Status Completed
Energy Categories Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(CO2 Capture and Storage, CO2 capture/separation) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor S Brandani
No email address given
Materials and Processes
University of Edinburgh
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 September 2016
End Date 30 April 2021
Duration 56 months
Total Grant Value £860,548
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region Scotland
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor S Brandani , Materials and Processes, University of Edinburgh (99.996%)
  Other Investigator Professor EEB Campbell , Sch of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Dr PA Wright , Chemistry, University of St Andrews (0.001%)
Dr D Friedrich , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
Dr E Mangano , Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (0.000%)
Project Contact , Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (0.000%)
Project Contact , Howden Group Technology (0.000%)
Project Contact , Lotte Chemical UK Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Tees Valley Unlimited (0.000%)
Project Contact , Diageo plc (0.000%)
Project Contact , INEOS Technologies UK (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The 2008 Climate Change Act sets a legally binding target of 80% CO2 emissions reductions by 2050. This target will require nearly complete decarbonisation of large and medium scale emitters. While the power sector has the option of shifting to low carbon systems (renewables and nuclear), for industrial emissions, which will account for 45% of global emissions, the solution has to be based on developing more efficient processes and a viable carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure. The government recognises also that "there are some industrial processes which, by virtue of the chemical reactions required for production, will continue to emit CO2", ie CCS is the only option to tackle these emissions. In order for the UK industry to maintain its competitiveness and meet these stringent requirements new processes are needed which reduce the cost of carbon capture, typically more than 60% of the overall cost of CCS.Research challenge - The key challenges in carbon capture from industry lie in the wide range of conditions (temperature, pressure, composition) and scale of the processes encountered in industrial applications. For carbon capture from industrial sources the drivers and mechanisms to achieve emissions reductions will be very different from those of the power generation industry. It is important to consider that for example the food and drinks industry is striving to reduce the carbon footprint of the products we purchase due to pressures from consumers.The practical challenge and the real long term opportunity for R&D are solutions for medium to small scale sources. In developing this project we have collaborated with several industrial colleagues to identify a broad range case studies to be investigated. As an example of low CO2 concentration systems we have identified a medium sized industry: Lotte Chemicals in Redcar, manufacturer of PET products primarily for the packaging of food and drinks. The plant has gas fired generators that produce 3500 kg/hr of CO2 each at approximately 7%. The emissions from the generators are equivalent to 1/50th of a 500 MW gas fired power plant. The challenge is to intensify the efficiency of the carbon capture units by reducing cycle times and increasing the working capacity of the adsorbents. To tackle this challenge we will develop novel amine supporting porous carbons housed in a rotary wheel adsorber. To maximise the volume available for the adsorbent we will consider direct electrical heating, thus eliminating the need for heat transfer surfaces and introducing added flexibility in case steam is not available on site.As an example of high CO2 concentrations we will collaborate with Air Products. The CO2 capture process will be designed around the steam methane reformer used to generate hydrogen. The tail gas from this system contains 45% v/v CO2. The base case will be for a generator housed in a shipping container. By developing a corresponding carbon capture module this can lead to a system that can produce clean H2 from natural gas or shale gas, providing a flexible low carbon source of H2 or fuel for industrial applications.Rapid cycle adsorption based processes will be developed to drive down costs by arriving flexible systems with small footprints for a range of applications and that can lead to mass-production of modular units. We will carry out an ambitious programme of work that will address both materials and process development for carbon capture from industrial sources.
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Added to Database 15/03/19