Simulation and Cost Estimation of CO2 Capture with alternatives for doubled capacity

Abstract

This study presents a techno-economic assessment of an amine-based carbon capture technology. The aim is to compare different methods to evaluate the cost effect of doubling the capacity. A base case was established in Aspen HYSYS with 15 m absorber packing height, 6 m desorber packing height, removal efficiency of 85 % and a heat exchanger minimum temperature approach (ΔTmin) of 10 °C. Then dimensioning and cost estimation was carried out using Aspen HYSYS spreadsheets to automatically calculate CAPEX, OPEX and carbon capture cost per ton CO2 captured. To estimate the Bare Erected Cost (BEC), the Enhanced Detailed Factor (EDF) and the Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) were employed. The EDF method determines the installation cost of each piece of equipment, while the Nazir-Amini method only offers the Total Plant Cost (TPC). Applying the EDF method, the TPC for the base case, the doubled feed gas case and the two-absorber case were calculated to 76, 141 and 150 MEuro respectively. The estimated annual OPEX for the base case was 42.5 MEuro, while for the two alternatives the OPEX was very close to the double of the base case. The estimated carbon capture cost for the base case, two-absorber case, and double feed gas scenario were 52.4 €/ton, 51.8 €/ton, and 50.5 €/ton, respectively. The study demonstrates that a combination of Aspen HYSYS simulation, APEA and the EDF method is an effective method to evaluate different alternatives for increasing the capacity.