Current status of MHI’s CO2 recovery technology and optimization of CO2 recovery plant with a PC fired power plant

AbstractIt is the opinion of the authors that CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) technology can significantly contribute as an effective countermeasure against climate change, allowing us to continue the utilization of fossil fuels for primary energy production. However for this technology to be widely deployed on a commercial basis there are three key issues that need to be addressed; (1) Reduction in energy consumption, (2) Efficient integration with other environmental control equipment of a PC power plant and (3) Reduction in the decrease of net electrical output.MHI has delivered multiple commercial CO2 recovery plants in the chemical and fertilizer industries, which recover CO2 from natural gas fired flue gas, with four commercial plants in operation and another four under construction, all utilizing the proprietary KM-CDR process.In order to gain experience with CO2 recovery from a coal fired flue gas stream, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), together with a subsidy from RITE and cooperation from J-POWER, constructed a 10 metric ton per day (T/D) CO2 recovery demonstration plant at the 2×500 MW Matsushima power station in southern Japan. This demonstration plant has subsequently achieved more than 4,000 hours of successful test operation during 2006–2007 with a further 1,000 hours during 2008, and testing continues today. The demonstration testing confirmed that the KM-CDR process is applicable to coal fired flue gas streams. Future research priorities include the improved integration of the CO2 recovery process with the flue gas pre-treatment components and the additional optimization of removal and separation methods for coal based impurities accumulating in the absorbent.An issue of concern for power plant operators is the reduction of the net electrical output due to the demands of CO2 recovery process. MHI has made significant improvements in this area and in the efficiency of absorbents. However, it is necessary to further reduce the adverse impact on the net electrical output of the power plant via astute integration of the energy transferred between the power plant and the Post Combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) plant. MHI is investigating the following concepts; (1) Utilizing the waste heat of the PCC plant for the power plant, (2) Utilizing heat recovery from the flue gas for the CO2 recovery process and (3) Utilizing the compression heat of the CO2 compressor for the CO2 recovery process

BCAA catabolism in brown fat controls energy homeostasis through SLC25A44.

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA; valine, leucine and isoleucine) supplementation is often beneficial to energy expenditure; however, increased circulating levels of BCAA are linked to obesity and diabetes. The mechanisms of this paradox remain unclear. Here we report that, on cold exposure, brown adipose tissue (BAT) actively utilizes BCAA in the mitochondria for thermogenesis and promotes systemic BCAA clearance in mice and humans. In turn, a BAT-specific defect in BCAA catabolism attenuates systemic BCAA clearance, BAT fuel oxidation and thermogenesis, leading to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Mechanistically, active BCAA catabolism in BAT is mediated by SLC25A44, which transports BCAAs into mitochondria. Our results suggest that BAT serves as a key metabolic filter that controls BCAA clearance via SLC25A44, thereby contributing to the improvement of metabolic health

Unusual Presentation of Popliteal Cyst on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Popliteal cyst commonly presents as an ellipsoid mass with uniform low signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Here, we describe a popliteal cyst with unusual appearance on magnetic resonance imaging, including heterogeneous intermediate signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Arthroscopic cyst decompression revealed that the cyst was filled with necrotic synovial villi, indicative of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthroscopic enlargement of unidirectional valvular slits with synovectomy was useful for the final diagnosis and treatment

The eradication projects and preventative control of quarantine pests in Okinawa, Japan

Of the several exotic insect species in Japan, five quarantine plant pest taxa: the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis complex, the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae, the solanaceous fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons, the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, and the West Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus, have been targeted in eradication programs using the male annihilation technique (MAT) and/or the sterile insect technique (SIT). Although all targeted fruit flies have successfully been eradicated, the incidences of re-invasion by Bactrocera dorsalis complex have been increasing in recent years, indicating the necessity for reinforcement and improvement of countermeasures for fruit fly re-invasion and/or recolonization. The program targeted at C. formicarius achieved the goal of complete eradication in Kume Island. The program for E. postfasciatus has yet to achieve eradication, even though it was initiated at the same time as that for C. formicarius. Major technical improvements are required for successful eradication of E. postfasciatus

New energy efficient processes and improvements for flue gas CO2 capture

AbstractThe Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) has developed energy efficient chemical absorbents and economical processes which aim to reduce the cost of CO2 capture, in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). Together the companies have been developing and critically testing high efficiency, economical absorbents according to the latest absorbent development procedures and process simulation for CO2 capture processes. This work has been ongoing since 1991, using several Japan based R&D facilities and a pilot plant, used to verify improvements, located at Nanko Power Station in Osaka, Japan. Following significant testing of a range of absorbents in the mid 1990s, KS-1TM, KS-2 and KS-3 were developed. Based on subsequent rigorous evaluation of the three solvents, KS-1TM was selected for commercialization because of its overall technical and economical merits. During long-term pilot plant testing, the improved absorbents demonstrated superior performance in relation to the regeneration energy requirements leading to the following results: 2.94 MJlkg- CO2 in combination with KS-1TM” and the Kansai Mitsubishi Carbon Dioxide Recovery (KM-CDR ProcessTM) commercial process. In addition, practical, commercially applicable improved absorbent properties such as low corrosiveness and low solvent consumption were also confirmed. KEPCO and MHI continue development work in this area and the current status is summarized as follows: The highly successful R&D phase has led to the commercial deployment of CO2 capture technology and seven (7) commercial CO2 capture plants are currently under operation, with a maximum CO2 capture capacity of 450 metric tons per day (tpd). These commercial plants are deployed in the chemical and fertilizer industry, where the operational performance is assisting in the improved development of R&D concepts. Two (2) further commercial plants are under construction, with commissioning expected in Q3 2010.For further cost reductions in relation to CO2 capture, recent work has focused on developing new energy efficient chemical absorbents and processes. Following modifications to the Nanko CO2 capture pilot plant a new “Energy Saving Process”, was developed, which leads to a greater than 10% steam consumption reduction over the MHI conventional process using KS-1TM absorbent. Additionally the same reduced steam consumption was recorded for tests using the KS-1TM absorbent. A thermal energy requirement of less than 2.5 MJ/kg- CO2 in combination with KS-1TM and the “New Energy Efficient Process” has been confirmed under the optimum operation condition of the CO2 capture process. In addition to select new absorbents which feature the best profile and fit to the actual operating condition, KEPCO and MHI have intensively evaluated vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and reaction kinetics for a range of newly developed absorbents and their performance is presented in this paper. The above data was obtained using the Nanko CO2 capture pilot plant which operates under a natural gas fired boiler condition and we expect that the thermal energy requirement of coal fired boiler flue gas (with greater CO2 concentration condition) will be further reduced.KEPCO and MHI are continuing pilot tests for the “Energy Saving Process”, leading to the application of this new process in commercial CO2 capture plant design. This paper introduces and presents the current status of the KEPCO & MHI CO2 capture technology and concepts for future energy reduction improvements. The paper will also include test results in relation to newly developed absorbents, and the “New Energy Efficient Process”, which have enhanced the performance and reduced the associated energy penalty of the CO2 capture process. KEPCO and MHI are continuing the development of efficient absorbents and optimized processes, thus helping to facilitate the future wide scale deployment of CO2 capture technology as an effective counter measure against global warming