Optimization methodology to dimension a CCU (carbon capture and utilisation) chain by maximizing the cost efficiency of the infrastucture

Details

Supervisors

De Jaeger, Emmanuel

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil électromécanicien, à finalité spécialisée: énergie

Abstract

Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies will likely become an important approach for CO2 emissions mitigation in the heavy industry sector. However, due to the high investment risk and cost, the technology has not yet been commercialised. The more established technology of CCS, rather similar to the one of CCU, is nowadays already proposed thanks to a higher R&D background. Therefore, CCU still needs more research in order to unlock its full potential. Actively mitigating the CO2 emissions, as done by the CCS, while going a step further by utilising this carbon dioxide as carbon source in various sectors (e-fuels synthesis, construction materials, chemical industry, etc.). The document, here, focuses on the use of CCU for Power-to-Fuel applications, more specifically it compares several production routes and their different components to determine the advantages and drawbacks of each, focusing on their global efficiency, selectivity and operability. Simulations have been also realised. They allow to compare the previously studied routes on their yearly production capabilities when powered only by renewable (PV). The goal of this document is to provide a preliminary study, based on the literature, of different CCU routes for Power-to-Fuel application in order to extract those that would be most conducive to potential future research as well as the one to avoid. The final results of the research and simulations are available in tables at the end of the document: Table III for the table resuming the different characteristics of efficiency, selectivity and operationability and Table 25 the simulation results.