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In this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project, InnoSepra LLC is developing a low-cost sorbent-based process for the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from low concentration feed streams. The two-stage process is envisioned to use structured sorbents in a rotating wheel configuration for the adsorption and regeneration of CO2, producing a stream with an enriched CO2 concentration of 10 to 15 percent that is then delivered as feed to an existing CO2 capture system for further purification. The first stage removes moisture through a rapid cycle adsorption process, while in the second stage CO2 (1 to 1.5 percent concentration) is adsorbed and enriched through a reactive adsorption process. The process utilizes physical sorbent materials in structured monolithic form that exhibit a low heat of adsorption, high CO2 capacity, and low pressure drop, resulting in a reduction in the parasitic power load compared with the state-of-the-art aqueous amine absorption process using monoethanolamine (MEA). In addition, the capital cost is reduced due to the ability to use offsite fabrication with less-expensive carbon steel materials. During Phase I, prototype adsorbents were evaluated at lab scale with feed gases containing low CO2 concentrations. A preliminary techno-economic analysis estimated that these sorbents have the potential to reduce capital and CO2 capture costs by more than 45 percent compared to MEA. In Phase II, test modules will be fabricated to evaluate structured sorbents for moisture removal and CO2 adsorption capacity at semi bench-scale using synthetic flue gas containing low CO2 concentrations. Test units will be modified to analyze both processes in a rotating bed configuration as well as a fixed bed configuration for comparison. An engineering design and a techno-economic analysis for a full-sized plant will be prepared.

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CO2 capture process schematic
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Project Benefits

This two-stage adsorption process will reduce the cost of CO2 capture from low-concentration sources through a reduction in capital cost and parasitic power consumption compared with an aqueous amine absorption process. When coupled with an existing post-combustion CO2 capture process, the technology can provide more than 99 percent removal of CO2 from coal-based power plants with a less than 10 percent increase in capture cost.

Project ID
SC0015114