Pilot plant experimental studies of post combustion CO2 capture by reactive absorption with MEA and new solvents

AbstractThe main challenge for the CO2 post combustion capture from power plant flue gases is the reduction of the energy requirement for solvent regeneration. The required reduction can only be achieved by application of new solvents. For the validation of new solvents in the absorption/desorption process, a pilot plant (column diameters 0.125 m, absorber packing height 4.2 m, flue gas flow 30–110 kg/h, CO2 partial pressure 35–135 mbar) was built in the EUproject CASTOR. To obtain a baseline for testing of new solvents, first systematic studies were carried out with MEA in that plant. All important process parameters, i.e. CO2 content in the flue gas, CO2 removal rate ΨCO2, fluid dynamic load, and solvent flow rate were varied. These studies allow detailed insight into the process, e.g., a quantification of the different contributions to the overall regeneration energy (namely: desorption enthalpy, stripping steam, heating up of solvent feed and condensate recycle) as a function of the chosen process parameters. A rate-based model of the process based on a detailed physico-chemical model was implemented in the process simulator CHEMASIM. It is shown that the model is able to predict the experimental results for MEA. Besides MEA, two new solvents were studied in the pilot plant. A direct comparison of different solvents in such pilot plant experiments is not trivial. The comparison of only a few operating points for the new solvents with seemingly corresponding results for MEA can lead to wrong conclusions, since for each solvent an optimisation of the operating conditions is necessary. Only systematical studies allow a meaningful comparison. The technique that was used in the present work for this purpose was measuring data sets at constant CO2 removal rate (by adjustment of the regeneration energy in the desorber) and systematically varying the solvent flow rate. A minimal energy requirement for the given removal rate is found from theses studies. Only the optima for different solvents should be compared. By this procedure, one solvent candidate was identified that shows an advantage compared to MEA

Comparison and limitation of different evaluation methods for novel PCC solvents

AbstractAs part of a cooperation finalized between BASF, RWE Power and Linde to develop optimized post combustion capture technology for power plants, BASF developed a screening and selection procedure for identifying potential solvent candidates to be tested in pilot plant and demonstration facilities. The lab screening procedure characterizes a solvent with a number of variables derived from measurements of phase equilibrium, reaction kinetics, and stability. A method based on statistical data analysis known as the principal component analysis was developed to find the best suited solvent. Several potential solvent candidates were identified with this method, tested in a mini plant, and benchmarked against MEA. The tests showed that the screening procedure not only successfully identified solvents which perform better than the MEA benchmark but also correctly predicted the order of suitability. Furthermore, a tool was established using the modified Kremser method to predict the energy demand of a solvent system with reasonable accuracy using, as the only inputs, the phase equilibrium and the heat of absorption of CO2 in the solvent

COVID-19 Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome — A Multicenter Observational Study

Background: Proportions of patients dying from the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vary between different countries. We report the characteristics; clinical course and outcome of patients requiring intensive care due to COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: This is a retrospective, observational multicentre study in five German secondary or tertiary care hospitals. All patients consecutively admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in any of the participating hospitals between March 12 and May 4, 2020 with a COVID-19 induced ARDS were included. Results: A total of 106 ICU patients were treated for COVID-19 induced ARDS, whereas severe ARDS was present in the majority of cases. Survival of ICU treatment was 65.0%. Median duration of ICU treatment was 11 days; median duration of mechanical ventilation was 9 days. The majority of ICU treated patients (75.5%) did not receive any antiviral or anti-inflammatory therapies. Venovenous (vv) ECMO was utilized in 16.3%. ICU triage with population-level decision making was not necessary at any time. Univariate analysis associated older age, diabetes mellitus or a higher SOFA score on admission with non-survival during ICU stay. Conclusions: A high level of care adhering to standard ARDS treatments lead to a good outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 1 - Executive Summary

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 4 - Detectors

This report, Volume IV of the International Linear Collider Reference Design Report, describes the detectors which will record and measure the charged and neutral particles produced in the ILC's high energy e+e- collisions. The physics of the ILC, and the environment of the machine-detector interface, pose new challenges for detector design. Several conceptual designs for the detector promise the needed performance, and ongoing detector R&D is addressing the outstanding technological issues. Two such detectors, operating in push-pull mode, perfectly instrument the ILC interaction region, and access the full potential of ILC physics.This report, Volume IV of the International Linear Collider Reference Design Report, describes the detectors which will record and measure the charged and neutral particles produced in the ILC's high energy e+e- collisions. The physics of the ILC, and the environment of the machine-detector interface, pose new challenges for detector design. Several conceptual designs for the detector promise the needed performance, and ongoing detector R&D is addressing the outstanding technological issues. Two such detectors, operating in push-pull mode, perfectly instrument the ILC interaction region, and access the full potential of ILC physics

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 3 - Accelerator

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2 s^-1. The complex includes a polarized electron source, an undulator-based positron source, two 6.7 km circumference damping rings, two-stage bunch compressors, two 11 km long main linacs and a 4.5 km long beam delivery system. This report is Volume III (Accelerator) of the four volume Reference Design Report, which describes the design and cost of the ILC.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2 s^-1. The complex includes a polarized electron source, an undulator-based positron source, two 6.7 km circumference damping rings, two-stage bunch compressors, two 11 km long main linacs and a 4.5 km long beam delivery system. This report is Volume III (Accelerator) of the four volume Reference Design Report, which describes the design and cost of the ILC

International Linear Collider Reference Design Report Volume 2: PHYSICS AT THE ILC

This article reviews the physics case for the ILC. Baseline running at 500 GeV as well as possible upgrades and options are discussed. The opportunities on Standard Model physics, Higgs physics, Supersymmetry and alternative theories beyond the Standard Model are described.This article reviews the physics case for the ILC. Baseline running at 500 GeV as well as possible upgrades and options are discussed. The opportunities on Standard Model physics, Higgs physics, Supersymmetry and alternative theories beyond the Standard Model are described