Cost-based comparison of multi-stage membrane configurations for carbon capture from flue gas of power plants

Abstract

An optimization study of membrane-based separation systems for carbon dioxide capture from flue gas of power plants is conducted, considering the possibility of employing up to four stages and using diverse options to create the required driving force. By proposing a superstructure-based model, the number of stages, recycle options, use of feed compression and/or permeate vacuum, driving force distribution along each membrane stage, operating conditions and equipment sizes are simultaneously optimized in order to minimize the total annual cost at high capture ratios and purity targets. Thus, different optimal arrangements are obtained and the total cost is reduced in about 20% compared without employing vacuum. Besides the optimal number of stages diminishes with decreasing purity, but it is independent of the capture ratio. Also, the total cost decreases with the increase of the membrane permeance requiring lower values of operating pressure and membrane areas. Permeance values higher than 2400 GPU lead to lower number of stages and recycles for the same separation target. By contrast, a sensitivity analysis shows that the total cost increases with the increase of the electricity price, capacity factor, and capital recovery factor, which are the more influential parameters in the objective function. Despite new optimal operating and design conditions are obtained when these parameters vary, no modifications in the optimal arrangement are observed.