Session 1. Oral Presentation for: Importance of heat integration in post combustion carbon capture
Sreelakshmi Puthoor A *A
Sreelakshmi Puthoor is a process engineer with 10 years of experience in process design, process control, and operations management in oil and gas facilities. Her experience includes executing technical feasibility studies, conceptual and detailed process engineering design, and process optimisation studies. Sree currently works as a process lead at Hatch, overseeing multiple projects focussed on post-combustion carbon capture and low-carbon fuels. Her key strengths include process engineering, optimisation, cost estimation and project management. Sree holds a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, specialising heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption-based wastewater treatment techniques. She also earned a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calicut. |
Abstract
Presented on 27 May 2025: Session 1
Heat integration is crucial in post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) for optimising energy efficiency and reducing the cost of capture. There are different methods by which this can be effectively accomplished depending on the specific application. Combined heat and power, process integration with existing units to utilise the excess heat, and waste heat recovery from flue gas are a few of the options employed to achieve this. Another effective strategy involves integrating the energy requirement for CO2 compression with the heat requirement for amine regeneration. This is achieved by producing high-pressure steam to drive CO2 compression via a steam turbine. The letdown steam from the turbine is then utilised for amine regeneration, maximising energy efficiency and reducing operational costs. This paper evaluates the impact of heat integration strategies on the levelised cost of PCC, considering both the capital and operating costs. Cost analysis integrates case study data from existing plants and estimates capital cost expenditures for full-scale PCC plants. The impact of factors like carbon emissions, taxes, credits, and sales are also considered. The discussion explores how key considerations and motivating factors influence process-design decisions at the flow sheet level regarding heat integration strategy selection. Additionally, the paper discusses how these strategies can address key challenges associated with carbon capture, such as adding a revenue stream by replacing aging assets or exporting power. Additional heat integration optimisation strategies for typical flue gas sources and existing operating units for specific applications will be included.
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Keywords: CO2 avoided, combined heat and power, heat integration, levelised cost, post-combustion carbon capture, steam boiler, steam-driven CO2 compression, waste heat recovery.
Sreelakshmi Puthoor is a process engineer with 10 years of experience in process design, process control, and operations management in oil and gas facilities. Her experience includes executing technical feasibility studies, conceptual and detailed process engineering design, and process optimisation studies. Sree currently works as a process lead at Hatch, overseeing multiple projects focussed on post-combustion carbon capture and low-carbon fuels. Her key strengths include process engineering, optimisation, cost estimation and project management. Sree holds a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, specialising heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption-based wastewater treatment techniques. She also earned a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calicut. |
