Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MOF4AIR (Metal Organic Frameworks for carbon dioxide Adsorption processes in power production and energy Intensive industRies)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-01 bis 2022-06-30
To identify the most appropriate MOF candidates in terms of performances, stability, cost, environmental impact, and large-scale production possibilities,
24 MOFs produced in powder form at small scale have been investigated and characterized by experimental measurements and theoretical simulations. The 5 MOFs selected have been synthesised at the scale of some hundred grams and shaped. Many binders (organic as well as inorganic) and shaping conditions (amount of binder, solvent, routes, …) have been tested to produce shaped samples. All samples have been fully characterised, and their quality (CO2 uptake, working capacity, CO2/N2 selectivity, stability, effect of water and impurities, kinetic) has been verified. The stability of samples under a gas flow and conditions simulating their use in the industrial process has been checked. That leads to the identification of the best candidates and especially the selection of shaping conditions. The first selected MOF has been synthesized at scale of 3 kg, shaped and will be tested in the VPSA (Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption) lab-pilot.
Besides the adsorbent material development, based on the measurements (adsorption isotherms, breakthrough curves) made on shaped samples at scale on some hundred grams, adsorption and kinetic parameters of adsorption processes have been determined.
Several configurations with different numbers of columns and stages can be used in a VPSA cycle. The simplest configuration is a stage unit with two columns configuration using the Skarstrom cycle. To increase the performance and reach the targets with a single unit, the 3 columns processes must be used. Several configurations exist and show promising results for CO2 capture. The 3 bed - 6 step cycle was finally selected and optimized to reach CO2 purity (95%) and recovery (90%) targets with the lowest energy consumption. Based on these results, the VPSA pilot at industrial scale (100 Nm³/h of flue gas) has been design and provided to the EPC ((Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) ) contractor. A MBTSA (Moving-Bed Temperature Swing Adsorption) has also been modelled.
The construction of the three demonstrations pilots is in progress by the selected EPC contractor.
The first optimization of complete chain including CPU (Compression and Purification Unit) and VPSA has been done.
The techno-economic analysis of the generic MOF-based concept is completed and an assessment of the KPI's has identified elements that need to undergo optimisation.
An analysis of the legislative and regulatory conditions in all participating countries and at EU level concerning capture, transport, and storage systems of CO2 has also been done. A set of recommendations, based on this legislative and regulatory assessment has been suggested.
Study of social issues by online survey about CCS/CCU and interviews with national key-stakeholders in MOF4AIR partner countries have been performed.
The transferability and replicability plans have started.
Exploitation Plan and Research Roadmap has started.
The ICB follow closely the results of the project, notably in terms of maturity and cost of the carbon capture solutions, mainly for possible transfer on their industries.
The scale-up and shaping of powder materials as alternative adsorbents for VPSA-based CO2 capture processes are promising. The adsorption results on the shaped materials prove the value of using them in an adsorption process.
Understanding the performance of the materials in a capture process and process configurations will be investigated through detailed process simulations. It will allow notably cost analysis and sizing of the various components of the adsorption-based capture system and would provide new insights on CO2 capture using MOFs.
One of the main expected results is the demonstration of the CO2 capture process in real industrial conditions to have the way for wider utilization of MOF4AIR capture technology in other energy intensive industries. The replicability and the transferability are expected to be fostered by the Industrial Cluster Board. The TEA (Techno-Economic Analysis) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) undertaken in the project will contribute to establish the MOF-based CO2 capture concept as a vital tool for achieving deep CO2 emission cuts in the European industrial sector.