Post-combustion CO2 capture process applied to flue gases with high CO2 contents: Micro-pilot experiments and simulations

In the context of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), the present article focuses on the investigation, for the cement industry of the post-combustion CO₂ capture using amine solvents applied to the conventional combustion and to an innovative type of combustion called O2-enriched air combustion. After a previous screening, the solvents selected were tested at micro-pilot scale in an absorption-regeneration device in order to determine their absorption performances and respective regeneration energies. Simple and activated solvents were tested in such conditions, such as primary and secondary alkanolamines and compared to the conventional solvent Monoethanolamine 30 wt.% (benchmark), both in conventional and high CO₂ contents conditions. As the experimental data, Aspen Hysys™ simulations of the micro-pilot unit proved that the solvents regeneration energies decrease for an increased CO₂ concentration in the gas to treat, which is the main advantage of the post-combustion CO₂ capture applied to partial oxy-fuel combustion.