Intensified, Flexible, and Modular Carbon Capture Demonstration with Additively Manufactured Multi-Functional Device

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will continue the development and validation of 3D-printed intensified devices (i.e., mass exchange packing with internal cooling channels) for application in absorption columns to enhance carbon dioxide (CO2) capture processes. In previous U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded projects, ORNL exhibited that the novel packing can effectively achieve mass exchange and heat exchange functionalities in a lab-scale column using an aqueous amine solvent (FWP-FEAA130) and using an advanced water-lean solvent (FWP-FEAA375). In this project, ORNL will: (1) design and construct a larger-scale column ('Column B') than previously tested at ORNL to further validate enhanced CO2 capture with 3D-printed intensified devices for aqueous amine-based capture at more realistic operating conditions; (2) assess the modularity of 'Column B' with the intensified devices by removing certain elements to allow for operation with advanced water-lean solvents; and (3) confirm that 'Column B' can be easily configured to effectively capture CO2 from different inlet gas CO2 compositions and during process transients.