Techno-economic analysis of carbon capture from a coal-fired power plant integrating solar-assisted pressure-temperature swing adsorption (PTSA)

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2019-03, Vol.214, p.440-451
• Main Authors: Zhao, Ruikai, Liu, Longcheng, Zhao, Li, Deng, Shuai, Li, Shuangjun, Zhang, Yue, Li, Hailong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO2 capture; PTSA; Solar thermal energy; Techno-economic study
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.316

This paper presents a techno-economic study to seek the feasibility about the proposed system that integrating solar-assisted pressure-temperature swing adsorption (PTSA) into an 800MWe coal-fired power plant. Solar energy has the potential to supply thermal energy demand for carbon capture, which can avoid the energy consumption of the traditional method such as the steam extraction. The performance of the proposed system is largely affected by the climatic conditions and solar collector's types. The assessment criteria include carbon emission intensity (CEI), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and cost of CO2 avoidance (COA). By the parametric analysis, the results show that CEI of the novel system with solar thermal collectors is approximately 2g/kWh lower than that of the referenced power plant with CO2 adsorption capture. In addition, CEI of the novel system can be further decrease with the decline of desorption temperature, adsorption pressure and desorption pressure. For the sake of lower LCOE and COA, the prices of the power plant capacity, adsorbents and solar collectors should be reduced. Specifically, LCOE of the system with evacuated tube collector will be lower than that of the reference system with CO2 capture as the price of solar field is lower than 46.08 USD/m2. [Display omitted] •A power plant with solar-assisted PTSA for CO2 capture is proposed and studied.•Technical study is evaluated in terms of carbon emission intensity.•Economic evaluation is conducted in terms of LCOE and COA.•The proposed system is superior to other solar-assisted CO2 capture methods.