CO2 capture and transport, IFP

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CO2 capture and transport

After-combustion capture involves separating CO₂from the other elements in flue gases (water vapor, nitrogen, etc.). The technology involved is well-known but remains expensive at around 50 to 70 euros per metric ton of CO₂. New, cost-effective processes must, therefore, be developed. IFP is exploring several avenues.

Adaptation of natural gas deacidification processes to the capture of CO₂
Capture through oxycombustion
Chemical looping combustion (ou CLC)
Syngas technologies
CO₂ Transport

Solvents: adaptation of natural gas deacidification processes to the capture of CO₂

The CASTOR project, coordinated by IFP, has yielded several key results. These include the construction of a CO₂capture pilot on the site of the power plant at Ejberg in Denmark and operated by Dong Energy. Several solvents have been tested in real conditions on this pilot. These tests have demonstrated the feasibility of capturing CO₂in flue gases, but the costs of capture still remain high.

IFP is developing various processes for capturing CO₂emitted by the power plants:

A first process uses standard solvents but has been optimized. The work has focused particularly on improvement of the additives to minimize corrosion and degradation of the solvent by the oxygen contained in the flue gases.
In addition, IFP is developing innovative processes which will make it possible to effectively reduce the cost of CO₂capture to 20 €/metric ton. One example is the use of solvents which, after having reacted with the CO₂, generate two phases, one being the result of the chemical reaction between the solvent and the CO2, the other being the solvent which did not react. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the energy needed to regenerate the solvent and, consequently, the cost of CO₂capture.

IFP is also developing other technologies designed to further reduce the costs of capture. These include the development of contactors to increase the exchange surfaces between flue gases and the liquid solvent, but also the use of innovative technologies to cut the energy costs of compressing CO₂at 110 bar.

Oxycombustion

IFP is also studying alternative capture solutions for new industrial facilities that can incorporate the necessary technical modules during construction. The goal here is to concentrate CO₂in flue gases, thereby facilitating its capture.

Oxycombustion (combustion with oxygen) is an alternative capture method which results in flue gases with a 90% CO₂ concentration.

Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC)

This process, which is similar to oxycombustion, converts hydrocarbon fuel directly into CO₂and H₂O so as to avoid the additional costs associated with separating oxygen from air at an earlier stage. The oxygen is supplied via a metal oxide, which is alternately oxidized by air and reduced by the fuel.

IFP participates in the European ENCAP project, which is coordinated by Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company. The other main partners in the project are Alstom, Siemens, SINTEF, TNO and Chalmers University in Sweden.

The project has two objectives:
- to adapt the CLC process so it can be used with coal on a circulating fluidized bed,
- to develop reactors that allow CLC to be applied to combined-cycle gas turbines.

In this respect, IFP is working on:
- the industrial production of materials (based on metal oxides) suitable for use in fluidized beds,
- the development of a natural gas-powered rotating CLC reactor suitable for use in gas turbines.
IFP coordinates the CLC-MAT project, which is financed by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and conducted in partnership with Total, Gaz de France, Marion Technologies, the CIRIMAT and the Ecole des Mines de Nantes. The aim is to develop reactive and resistant materials for various CLC applications.
IFP works closely with Alstom on CLOE, a combustion gas recycling process. A new version of the process was patented in 2005.
Finally, IFP is studying combustion based on solid reactive phases.

Syngas technologies

IFP’s researchers are working to develop technologies for CO₂capture from synthetic gases generated by hydrogen or biomass feeds. This solution means hydrogen can be produced with zero CO₂emissions.

IFP participates in the European Hypogen program, which was launched in 2004. Over the next ten years, this program will be developing a test facility to produce electricity from natural gas while capturing and storing CO₂.

The pre-feasibility study currently underway will:
- select the most appropriate technologies,
- identify the most suitable storage site in Europe,
- study associated regulatory issues.

IFP is a stakeholder in the European Cachet (Carbon Capture via Hydrogen Energy Technology) project. Launched in 2006, this project aims to develop technologies which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electrical power stations by 90%. As a partner in the project, IFP is driving efforts to improve natural gas steam reforming techniques and coordinates research into the HyGenSys process (trademarked by IFP). The goal is to produce hydrogen and electricity simultaneously while improving thermal efficiency and capturing CO₂.

CO₂transport

IFP research into CO₂transportation relates to the impact of impurities arising from capture. These impurities alter the thermodynamic properties of the CO₂and can, therefore, have an impact on its transport. They can also provoke internal corrosion in pipes.

To reduce transport costs, IFP is studying the development of internal coatings on pipes to reduce friction coefficients and hence pressure losses.