Experience with CO2 capture from coal flue gas in pilot-scale: Testing of different amine solvents

As part of the EU project CASTOR, a 1 t/h CO2 absorption pilot plant has been erected at Esbjergværket (Esbjerg power station) in Denmark. The main purpose of the pilot plant is to demonstrate the post combustion capture technology in conjunction with a coal-fired power station. Additionally, the pilot plant has been used to test the performance of new energy efficient solvents and to validate modelling work. The pilot plant operates on a slipstream of flue gas from the power plant without any further pre- treatment. During the CASTOR project, four 1000-hours test campaigns have been conducted at the facility using conventional solvent, 30%-weight MEA as well as two novel amine-based solvents, CASTOR 1 and CASTOR 2. Among others, the test campaigns consisted of parameter variation tests and longer periods of continuous operation. This paper summarises the operation experience and some of the results obtained during the CASTOR project.