The 1MW pilot test unit is located at FirstEnergy’s RE Burger Plant near Shadyside, Ohio. The test results show that the pilot unit is meeting its performance goals, the company said.
The pilot averaged greater than 90% carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from a slipstream of flue gas from the coal-fired power plant. The pilot performance data provides all of the information needed for Powerspan to move to commercial scale demonstration systems. Commercial cost estimates based on pilot performance data are less than $50 per ton for CO2 capture and compression.
Christopher McLarnon, senior vice president of engineering and R&D at Powerspan, said: “Our goal with the ECO2 pilot unit has been to demonstrate performance that results in lower energy costs than other post-combustion CO2 capture technologies. The pilot performance data we have gathered shows that we have achieved this goal, and we are continuing to optimize the system.”
Morgan Jones, staff environmental specialist of FirstEnergy, said: “We are pleased to have been part of the ECO2 pilot test. We continue to believe that technology development is the best approach for cost-effectively reducing CO2 emissions from existing power plants.”
During extended runs, the pilot unit averaged greater than 90% CO2 capture at design inlet CO2 conditions with regeneration energy of less than 1,200 Btu/lb after heat integration. The product CO2 was purified to meet industrial pipeline specifications using equipment that is part of the pilot installation. The pilot unit has demonstrated that it can adapt to the normal changes of an operating power plant, which is a necessary step in moving toward commercial scale systems.
