Pre-Processing of a CO₂ feedstream in a CCUS methanol microplant

Abstract

When experimenting with the compression of a gas similar to the output of a CO2 Direct Air Captureunit using an off-the-shelf lubricated compressor, Zero Emission Fuels B.V.(ZEF) encountered severecondensation, damaging the compressor. This explorative study aims to identify the cause of thisproblem, create a concept solution, and test this concept based on model-supported experimentation.Based on a literature study all theoretical concepts are divided into three solution classes. Twoconcepts are then created and theoretically compared. A concept is selected that is based on theadsorption of water into a solid desiccant.As the concept solution is to operate in a closed system, regeneration of the desiccant needs to befaster than its utilization. For this, an experiment is made where a controlled quantity of inert gas ismoisturized, dried, and used to regenerate a second column. From this it can be concluded that thegas can be dried adequately, and that regeneration can be done thoroughly.A model is made to verify the experiment’s workings, based on models from literature. This modelis then validated using literature, and then fitted to experimental data. Combining experiment andliterature data, three key performance indicators are calculated: Cyclic capacity, energy usage, anddesorption rate. The design tools and models developed throughout this thesis are used to size thenext iteration of the concept according to the needs of ZEF.From this, it is concluded that the presented concept is indeed viable to prevent, rather than solve,the problem stated at the start of this thesis. Recommendations are done concerning further develop-ment of the prototype, experiments, model, and overall system