This work compares three postcombustion CO2 capture processes based on mature technologies for CO2 separation, namely, (i) absorption using an aqueous piperazine solution, (ii) adsorption using Zeolite 13X in conventional fixed beds (either vacuum swing adsorption or temperature swing adsorption), and (iii) multistage membrane separation using a polymeric material (with CO2/N2 selectivity of 50 and permeability for CO2 of 1700 GPU). All three capture plants are assumed to be retrofitted to a generic industrial CO2-emitting source with 12% CO2 v/v (with 95% relative humidity at the inlet temperature and pressure of 30 °C and 1.3 bar, respectively) to deliver CO2 at 96% purity. In the cases of adsorption and membranes, the flue gas is dried before feeding it to the CO2 capture unit. In a first step, the capture processes (i.e., components and design parameters) are optimized based on their technical performance, defined through process exergy requirement and plant productivity; exergy–productivity Pareto fronts are computed for varying CO2 recovery rates. Second, the economic performance of the processes is assessed through a cost analysis. Estimates of CO2 capture costs are provided for each process as a function of the plant size and CO2 recovery rate. The comparative assessment shows that, although the adsorption- and membrane-based processes analyzed may become cost competitive at the small scale (i.e., below sizes of 100 tons of flue gas processed per day) and low recovery rates (i.e., below ca. 40%), the absorption-based process considered is the most cost-effective option at most plant sizes and recovery rates.

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The technology of circulating fluidized beds (CFBs) is applied to temperature swing adsorption (TSA) processes for post-combustion CO 2 capture employing a commercial zeolite sorbent. Steady state operation is simulated through a one-dimensional model, which combines binary adsorption with the CFB dynamics. Both single step and multi-step arrangements are investigated. Extensive sensitivity analyses are performed varying the operating conditions, in order to assess the influence of the main operational parameters. The results reveal a neat superiority of multi-step configurations over the standard one, in terms of both separation performance and efficiency. Compared to fixed-bed TSA systems, CFB TSA features a high compactness degree. However, product purity levels are limited compared to the best performing fixed-bed processes, and heat management within the system appears to be a major issue. As regards energy efficiency, CFB systems place themselves in between the most established absorption-based technologies and the fixedbed TSA.

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Retro-fitting of post-combustion CO 2 capture units to coal fired power plants is key to the transition to a net-zero CO 2 emission reality. Different separation technologies have been found suitable for CO 2 capture, but a more comprehensive approach is required to identify the most viable option among those commercially available. In this study we analyze the three most established technologies, namely absorption, adsorption and membrane separation, comparing both their exergetic efficiency and their total cost. This assessment provides an overview of the technical differences among the three capture routes and a realistic estimate of the expenditures associated with post-combustion CO2 capture, as of today.