Electrically Driven CO2 Capture for Cement Industry - Maximizing Efficiency, Minimizing Emissions
The cement industry was identified as a hard to abate industrial sector for decarbonization as the source of the CO2 origins predominantly from the cement process and not from the combustion reaction of fossil fuels. Hence, technologies as hydrogen firing or electric furnaces cannot decarbonize cement sector to net zero emission level. Furthermore, replacement of cement as building material with alternative materials is currently not identified as viable option. Carbon capture is identified as the most attractive technology to decarbonize cement plants and as the emissions - related to the overall industry sector - are quite substantial, they play a key role within the decarbonization of the industry.
Cement plants usually do not have any steam supply available. While amine wash technologies require mainly heat (i.e. steam) as energy supply, adsorptive cryogenic separation technologies do only require electric power. Linde’s HISORP® CC technology is based on adsorptive cryogenic separation concept and is optimized towards highest energy efficiency using a special vacuum pressure swing adsorption approach.
Compared to Amine Wash technologies following main advantages can be identified for HISORP® CC
- Electrically driven carbon capturing technology – usage of 100% renewable power is possible
- No emissions of solvent derivatives to atmosphere
- No continuous make-up of solvents
- Re-use of water. HISORP® CC plants can become water producers as the water present in the flue gas condenses by compression.
- Dry air cooling concept can be applied. Hence no cooling water make-up is required
- Efficiency can be boosted by oxygen enriched combustion
The HISORP® CC process can be subdivided into a CO2 purification plant and a CO2 pressure swing adsorption plant. Both plants are individually referenced and both plants are already in operation by Linde plc. Hence, HISORP® CC is considered as proven technology.
HISORP® has a high availability and the PSA units can be delivered as modular skids to the construction site minimizing the construction effort on-site. This is a major advantage compared to stick build plants as amine wash technologies, which requires more construction effort on-site.