Demonstration of latest CANSOLV CO2 capture technology advancements at TCM

In a 6-month demonstration campaign at TCM (Technology Centre Mongstad), Shell Global Solutions showcased the latest advancements in CANSOLV CO2 capture technology. Key improvements include increasing the amine regeneration pressure from 2 bara to 4 bara, enabling up to 10% reduction in specific regeneration energy and 25% reduction in compression power. Additionally, expanding the solvent portfolio with improved tailored blends, referred to as Alpha blends, enables a reduction in solvent circulation, absorber packing height and regeneration energy while ensuring emissions remain compliant with stringent limits. In a commercial context, this last enhancement can lead to a reduction of up to 30% in absorber packing height, a 20% decrease in solvent circulation, and a 5% reduction in reboiler duty while maintaining amine emissions in the parts per billion by volume (ppbv) range.

Tests were conducted on natural gas combustion flue gas, diluted to 4% mol CO2 to replicate NGCC conditions, and Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) flue gas with approximately 13% mol CO2. The unit was operated at CO2 capture efficiencies of 90%, 95%, and 98%. The TCM facility, equipped with advanced instrumentation, facilitated comprehensive data collection. Key performance indicators included regeneration energy, CO2 capture percentage, amine degradation rate, emissions, and CO2 product quality. Emissions were measured using FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), IMR-MS (Ion-Molecule Reaction Mass Spectrometry), PTR-ToF-MS (Proton-Transfer-Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry) and validated by impinger-based sampling. Shell’s proprietary systems enabled the on-line measurement of amine concentrations, CO2 loading, and key non-ionic degradation products in both the lean and rich solvents. Furthermore, solvent health and degradation were monitored using IC-MS (Ion Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) at TCM and LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) at the University of Montreal. The assessment demonstrated excellent closure for nitrogen and consistency between amine depletion rates and degradation products’ formation rate.

The testing at TCM demonstrated Shell’s capability to customize post-combustion CO2 capture solvent formulations and amine regeneration pressure to specific applications, reducing solvent inventories, circulation, reboiler duty, emissions, amine degradation and CO2 compression power requirements.