Pilot testing of a heat integrated 0.7 MWe CO₂ capture system with two-stage air-stripping: Emission

The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UKy-CAER) designed, constructed and tested an advanced 0.7 MWe post-combustion CO₂ capture system on a coal-fired power plant using a heat integration process combined with two-stage stripping to enhance the CO₂ absorber performance and lower the cost of CO₂ capture. Evaluation of emissions from the solvent and degradation products was performed to determine the impact on the amine solvent of coal combustion flue gas contaminants and oxygen exposure due to incorporation of the secondary air stripper into the conventional amine absorber/stripper system. The overall amine, ammonia and aldehyde emission levels observed during the baseline 30% monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent testing campaign were generally comparable to previously published reports tested at similar flue gas conditions and system operating hours. Ammonia emissions were correlated to high levels of iron and copper in the solvent, likely as a result of material corrosion.