Posted: May 22nd, 2023

How Process Intensification May Help Units in the Carbon Capture Process

The above figure illustrates a carbon capture process in a typical Bituminous CO2 Capture Power Plant in a block diagram. The plant incorporates an absorption column, a stripper column, reboiler, a storage and handling amine system, disposable spent amine, stripper column, and flue gas cooler, each with a specific role. Based on the principles of process intensification principles it its incumbent for the plant design to incorporate process intensification methods in the carbon capture and mass/heat transfer processes (Synowiec, 1967).

This process begins with problem identification and the objective functions and variables. These include plant location as one of the functions and pant design. In addition to that, variables such as optimal performance of the plant, costs associated when integrating PI into the process. In addition to that, energy wastes in the process, system efficiency in capturing carbon, costs, and flexibility of the carbon capture cycle bear a binary relationship in making an optimal decision.