Publications
47 results found
Bui M, Adjiman CS, Bardow A, et al., 2018, Carbon capture and storage (CCS): the way forward, Energy and Environmental Science, Vol: 11, Pages: 1062-1176, ISSN: 1754-5692
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is broadly recognised as having the potential to play a key role in meeting climate change targets, delivering low carbon heat and power, decarbonising industry and, more recently, its ability to facilitate the net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, despite this broad consensus and its technical maturity, CCS has not yet been deployed on a scale commensurate with the ambitions articulated a decade ago. Thus, in this paper we review the current state-of-the-art of CO2 capture, transport, utilisation and storage from a multi-scale perspective, moving from the global to molecular scales. In light of the COP21 commitments to limit warming to less than 2 °C, we extend the remit of this study to include the key negative emissions technologies (NETs) of bioenergy with CCS (BECCS), and direct air capture (DAC). Cognisant of the non-technical barriers to deploying CCS, we reflect on recent experience from the UK's CCS commercialisation programme and consider the commercial and political barriers to the large-scale deployment of CCS. In all areas, we focus on identifying and clearly articulating the key research challenges that could usefully be addressed in the coming decade.
Bui M, Dowell NM, 2018, Flexible operation of CO<inf>2</inf> capture processes at different plant scales
Zhang D, Bui M, Fajardy M, et al., 2018, Optimal deployment of bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) in the UK
Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is a key negative emissions technology that has the potential to substantially reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration and limit global warming to below 2°C. Among the available negative emission technologies, BECCS is projected to produce 50 TWh/yr of power generation, thereby removing 47 MtCO2/yr in 2050 in the UK, as suggested by the Committee for Climate Change. Important indicators when considering the deployment of BECCS is to ensure BECCS has 1) a negative carbon balance, 2) a positive energy balance, and 3) and does not compete for food for agricultural land use. Recovering energy from waste wood and municipal solid waste (MSW) has the potential to generate electricity, deliver negative emissions, whilst minimising land use and biomass import. This study optimises the design of a UK BECCS value chain with a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model. The fuels considered for this work include MSW derived fuel, waste wood (grade A and B), indigenous miscanthus, indigenous poplar, and imported pine pellets from the US. CO2 emissions and costs associated with the entire supply chain are explicitly accounted for. The BECCS supply chain optimisation results indicate that MSW and waste wood are consumed as the basic material supplies, which can provide low-cost alternative to imported biomass. By using MSW and waste wood, the total system cost would be reduced ~12%. Miscanthus is preferred over poplar as the virgin biomass supply and the farms are mostly located in the south of the UK, which has higher production yield and land availability. The selection of BECCS plant locations tends to be near cities where waste wood and MSW are more readily available and then expand to port area. Biomass feedstock derived from wastes are therefore likely to play an important role in BECCS deployment in the UK, in both biomass supply and locations of BECCS facilities.
Bui M, Fajardy M, Mac Dowell N, 2017, Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): Opportunities for performance improvement, Fuel, Vol: 213, Pages: 164-175, ISSN: 0016-2361
This study evaluates the performance of a 500 MW pulverised fuel BECCS system. A performance matrix is developed to assess the opportunities for BECCS performance improvement in terms of: energy efficiency, carbon intensity, and pollutant emissions. The effect of fuel properties was analysed for variable (i) coal type (high/medium sulphur content), (ii) biomass type (wheat straw and wood chips), (iii) moisture content, and (iv) biomass co-firing proportion %. It was observed that the co-firing of biomass increased the quantity and quality of waste heat available for recovery from the exhaust gas. The opportunities to improve energy efficiency in the BECCS system include enhancing heat recovery and using high performance solvents for CO2 capture, such as biphasic materials. Implementing these approaches increased the power generation efficiency from 31%HHV (conventional MEA system) to 38%HHV (using an advanced biphasic solvent with heat recovery). Furthermore, power generation efficiency was found to influence the carbon intensity on an annual basis and annual capacity (load factor) of the BECCS system. Significant reductions to SOX emissions were achieved by increasing biomass co-firing % or using low sulphur coal.
Bui M, Fajardy M, Dowell NM, 2017, Thermodynamic Evaluation of Carbon Negative Power Generation: Bio-energy CCS (BECCS), Energy Procedia, Vol: 114, Pages: 6010-6020, ISSN: 1876-6102
Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is an important greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technology with the potential to provide significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 concentration. The power generation efficiency of BECCS can be improved by using heat recovered from flue gas to supply energy requirements of the solvent regeneration process. This paper assesses the influence of solvent selection and biomass co-firing proportion on recoverable heat, energy efficiency and carbon intensity of a 500 MW pulverized fuel BECCS system. The effects of (i) coal type (high and medium sulphur content), (ii) biomass type (wheat straw and clean wood chips, (iii) variable moisture content, and (iv) biomass co-firing % on AFT and emissions of SOX and NOX was evaluated. Compared to firing of coal alone, co-firing low moisture biomass generated higher adiabatic flame temperature. As biomass co-firing proportion increased, SOX emissions decreased, whereas NOX emissions increased with greater AFT. Factors that enhanced BECCS efficiency included the use of high performance solvents and higher heat recovery (higher AFT and flue gas flow rate). These results lead to the development of a performance matrix which summarizes the effect of key process parameters.
Bui M, Fajardy M, Mac Dowell N, 2017, Bio-Energy with CCS (BECCS) performance evaluation: Efficiency enhancement and emissions reduction, APPLIED ENERGY, Vol: 195, Pages: 289-302, ISSN: 0306-2619
In this study we evaluate the feasibility of the recovery of waste heat from the power plant boiler system of a pulverised fuel power plant with amine-based CO2 capture. This recovered heat can, as a function of fuel type and solvent selection, provide up to 100% of the heat required for solvent regeneration, thus obviating the need for withdrawing steam from the power plant steam cycle and significantly reducing the efficiency penalty imposed upon the power plant by the CO2 capture process. In studying the thermochemistry of the combustion process, it was observed that co-firing with low moisture biomass achieved higher adiabatic flame temperatures (AFT) than coal alone. The formation and emission of SOX reduced as biomass co-firing proportion increased, whereas NOX emissions were observed to be a function of AFT. The power generation efficiency of a 500 MW 50% co-firing BECCS system increased from 31%HHV with a conventional MEA solvent, to 34%HHV with a high performance capture solvent. The heat recovery approach described in this paper enabled a further efficiency increase up to 38%HHV with the high performant solvent. Such a system was found to remove 0.83 MtCO2 from the atmosphere per year at 90% capacity factor.
Bui M, Fajardy M, DoweII NM, 2017, Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): Opportunities for efficiency improvement, Pages: 294-307
Bui M, Fajardy M, Dowell NM, 2017, Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): Opportunities for efficiency improvement, Pages: 1132-1145
Bui M, Fajardy M, MacDowell N, 2017, Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): Opportunities for efficiency improvement, Pages: 661-674
Smit B, Styring P, Wilson G, et al., 2016, Modelling - from molecules to megascale: general discussion, Faraday Discussions, Vol: 192, Pages: 493-509, ISSN: 1359-6640
Bui M, Gunawan I, Verheyen VT, et al., 2016, Dynamic operation of liquid absorbent-based post-combustion CO2 capture plants, Absorption-Based Post-combustion Capture of Carbon Dioxide, Editors: Feron, Publisher: Woodhead Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-08-100514-9
Dynamic (or flexible) operation has been proposed as a strategy to reduce the impact of integrating post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) into power plants. It provides a means for counteracting ongoing variations in the composition of flue gas and absorbent, and also accounts for dynamic variations in carbon and electricity pricing, and electricity demand. For example, in periods of low energy demand, electricity prices will be lower and capture rates may be ramped up accordingly. During high-demand periods, electricity prices will be higher, and capture may be turned down or switched off completely. Flexible PCC operation can also coordinate the balance between electricity demand and legislative requirements for CO2 emission reductions, to improve the economic feasibility of PCC. However, dynamic PCC operation imposes process disturbances when the CO2 capture plant is ramped up or turned down. The immediate and long-term effects of these disturbances are unclear. Thus, recent research is now focusing on the feasibility of flexible PCC operation on a technical basis. Dynamic modeling and pilot plant studies will improve our understanding of dynamic PCC behavior and enable process control to be optimized.
Bui M, Gunawan I, Verheyen V, et al., 2016, Flexible operation of CSIRO's post-combustion CO2 capture pilot plant at the AGL Loy Yang power station, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol: 48, Pages: 188-203, ISSN: 1750-5836
Flexible operation has the potential to significantly improve the economic viability of post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC). However, the impact of disturbances from flexible operation of the PCC process is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flexible operation in a PCC pilot plant by implementing step-changes for improved dynamic data reliability. The flexible operation campaign was conducted at the CSIRO PCC pilot plant at AGL Loy Yang using monoethanolamine (MEA) absorbent. The pilot plant was operated under a broad range of transient conditions (changing flue gas flow, liquid absorbent flow and steam pressure) to capture the dynamics of a PCC process during flexible operation. The study demonstrated that the dynamics of flue gas flow rate was faster than absorbent flow rate. The greatest CO2 removal% was achieved at the lowest flue gas flow rate or at the highest absorbent flow rate; however, the latter provided improved energy efficiency. The steam pressure parameter could adjust the temperature of all columns simultaneously which can be used to compensate for effects from ambient conditions or heat losses. These results verify the technical feasibility of flexible PCC operation and provide a suitable dataset for dynamic model validation.
Bui M, Gunawan I, Verheyen V, et al., 2014, Dynamic modelling and optimisation of flexible operation in post-combustion CO<sub>2</sub> capture plants-A review, COMPUTERS & CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Vol: 61, Pages: 245-265, ISSN: 0098-1354
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- Citations: 115
Bui M, Gunawan I, Verheyen TV, et al., 2014, Dynamic operation of post-combustion CO<sub>2</sub> capture in Australian coal-fired power plants, 12TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, GHGT-12, Vol: 63, Pages: 1368-1375, ISSN: 1876-6102
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- Citations: 14
Theeyattuparampil VV, Zarzour OA, Koukouzas N, et al., 2013, Carbon capture and storage: State of play, challenges and opportunities for the GCC countries, International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol: 7, Pages: 223-242, ISSN: 1750-6220
Purpose: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have consistently ranked high in per capita carbon emissions, not to mention the fact that a lifestyle with a high ecological footprint in a fragile ecosystem can affect the regional environment, prosperity and social stability. The adoption of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the GCC countries has been consistently gaining attention, as it is widely seen as a suitable mitigation measure, particularly in a region where heavy industry and geological exploitation have led to wealth and prosperity. Additionally, making captured CO<DN>2</DN> available for enhanced oil recovery is expected to create significant economic value. However, the lack of a coordinated environmental regulation regime to cap future carbon emissions is posing significant risks for further CCS development. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reviews the state of play with regard to CCS in the GCC region and investigate the opportunities and challenges facing CCS development in the UAE by use of the interview technique. Findings: This paper finds that the lack of CCS-related regulations, absence of CCS policy at a national level and limited human capital resources are impeding the development of CCS in the UAE. Findings from this study can offer GCC policy-makers relevant insights into how best to develop CCS projects for the GCC region. Originality/value: This is an original research, that has not been conducted before. This is first of a kind assessment for the GCC region. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Bui M, Gunawan I, Verheyen V, et al., 2013, Dynamic modeling and validation of post-combustion CO<sub>2</sub> capture plants in Australian coal-fired power stations, GHGT-11, Vol: 37, Pages: 2694-2702, ISSN: 1876-6102
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- Citations: 9
Gibbins J, Chalmers H, 2008, Carbon capture and storage, ENERGY POLICY, Vol: 36, Pages: 4317-4322, ISSN: 0301-4215
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- Citations: 593
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