Russian researchers have proposed a new membrane system to reduce carbon emissions gas at power plants. The technology is efficient, compact and cost-effective.
A team of scientists from the Russian Chemical Technology University. D. I. Mendeleev, Nizhny Novgorod State University. N.I. Lobachevsky and Moscow State University have developed a new scheme for capturing CO₂ after fuel combustion at thermal power plants and fuel and energy complexes. This approach is especially important for existing power plants, where it is impossible to completely rebuild the equipment.
Today, the main industrial method remains chemical absorption with amine solutions. The technology is reliable, but requires large amounts of energy to regenerate the solution and faces problems of corrosion and waste generation. Membrane methods, in which gases pass through a semi-permeable membrane, are considered more environmentally friendly and space-saving. However, at low CO₂ concentrations and near atmospheric pressure, conventional membrane plants are often not economically viable.
The new solution of Russian scientists is based on the principle of a continuous membrane column. The membranes operate as a single unit, and two gas streams circulate inside the installation. One stream is gradually cleared of CO₂, the second accumulates it step by step. This principle makes it possible to increase separation efficiency without sharply increasing pressure or creating a vacuum.
Scientists tested the system usingcomputer modeling AspenPlus. The calculations used real parameters of flue gases from a 600 MW thermal power plant. The goal was to capture at least 90% of CO₂, produce a product that was 95% purified, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 2% or below.
The results showed that both variants of the new column were effective, but the most promising configuration was the one that combined all gas streams before cooling and liquefying the CO₂. This design allows you to reduce installation size, reduce equipment costs and maintain competitive energy consumption levels. The membrane area is about 2.8 million square meters – almost a third less than its analogues.
An economic assessment showed that the cost of capturing one ton of CO₂ in the new system is approximately $34, which is significantly lower than classic two-stage vacuum plants and modern membrane solutions. Costs are distributed in a balanced manner between equipment and operating costs.
A new membrane column by Russian scientists makes carbon dioxide capture at thermal power plants more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly. The technology opens the way to reducing CO₂ emissions without costly reconstruction of power plants.
Source: Global Energy
Image: Global Energy
