Comparative Industrial-Scale Life Cycle Assessment of Base Case and Heat Recovery Scenarios for Carbon Capture from Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants Using Aqueous Ammonia
Page view(s)
19
Checked on Feb 11, 2025
Comparative Industrial-Scale Life Cycle Assessment of Base Case and Heat Recovery Scenarios for Carbon Capture from Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants Using Aqueous Ammonia
Comparative Industrial-Scale Life Cycle Assessment of Base Case and Heat Recovery Scenarios for Carbon Capture from Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants Using Aqueous Ammonia
Pancy Ang, Wayne Goh, Jie Bu, & Shuying Cheng. 2024. Comparative Industrial-Scale Life Cycle Assessment of Base Case and Heat Recovery Scenarios for Carbon Capture from Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants Using Aqueous Ammonia. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 12 (51), 18335-18349. DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06660
Abstract:
As social and economic activities return to pre-COVID-19 levels, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise,
exacerbating climate change. This study explores carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants, proposing aqueous ammonia as a solvent due to its high reactivity and lower energy regeneration requirements. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to compare a base case with a heat recovery scenario for capturing 300 kilotonnes of CO2 annually from NGCC flue gas. The cradle-to-gate LCA, using a functional unit of 1
tonne of CO2 input, encompasses the process from flue gas extraction to the production of purified CO2. The heat recovery scenario outperformed the base case in all environmental impact
categories. The LCA results indicated a net carbon abatement of 94.49 kg CO2 eq for the base case and 508.69 kg CO2 eq for the heat recovery scenario. Key contributors to global warming potential (GWP) included electricity consumption and heat production, while the human toxicity potential (HTP) and marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP) were significant environmental impact categories. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation highlighted critical parameters and uncertainties, and scenario analysis
examined additional variables for a comprehensive assessment. Aqueous ammonia not only lowers emissions but also provides cost-effectiveness and high absorption efficiency, positioning it as a viable option for large-scale CO2 capture. Additionally, it has potential for future integration with the carbonation of municipal and industrial solid waste, contributing to sustainable waste management and carbon sequestration.
License type:
Publisher Copyright
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Low-Carbon Energy Research Funding Initiative
Grant Reference no. : U2102d2008