Overview on Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) as CO2 Capture Technology: State-of-the-Art, Limits and Potentials

Abstract

This paper provides an insight on state-of-the-art, limits and potentials of pressure swing adsorption (PSA) as CO2 capture technology into power plants. To get a complete picture both post- and pre-combustion cases are considered. The expertise developed with modeling and simulation of PSA processes in power plants stressed the need of a holistic approach to the analysis. The different domains which determine the viability of the technology are taken into account, together with their mutual influence. Accordingly, adsorbent materials characteristics, process configurations and integration strategies are investigated and discussed, in order to provide a general evaluation. In post-combustion applications, PSA has been widely assessed with regard to adsorbent materials and processes. The integration into power plant does not entail significant issues, with a good potential for retrofitting old plants. An excessively large footprint of the separation unit has been reported, which seems to question the feasibility of PSA. In pre-combustion applications, prospects for improving adsorbent materials and processes are noticed. Good potential for PSA is envisaged whit hot gas separation processes, especially with sorption-enhanced processes. Furthermore, the complexity of the arrangements in pre-combustion cases may open room for interesting alternative system configurations, like power and H2 coproduction layouts.