Prospective techno-economic and environmental assessment of carbon capture at a refinery and CO<sub>2</sub> utilisation in polyol synthesis

Journal article (2017)

Authors

C. Fernandez Dacosta Universiteit Utrecht
Mijndert van der Spek Universiteit Utrecht
Christine Hung Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Gabriel David Oregionni Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Prashant Parihar Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
D. T. Gokak Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
Anders Strømman Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Andrea Ramirez Energy and Industry , Universiteit Utrecht
Research Group
Energy and Industry
Copyright: © 2017 C. Fernandez Dacosta, Mijndert Van Der Spek, Christine Roxanne Hung, Gabriel David Oregionni, Ragnhild Skagestad, Prashant Parihar, D. T. Gokak, Anders Hammer Strømman, Andrea Ramirez
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2017.08.005
Abbreviations BEC bare erected cost CC climate change CCS carbon capture and storage CCS/U carbon capture storage and utilisation CCU carbon capture and utilisation CCUS carbon capture utilization and storage CPC cyclic propylene carbonate DMC double metal cyanide EDD environmental due diligence EDDiCCUT Environmental Due Diligence of novel CO Capture and Utilization Technologies EPCC engineering, procurement and construction costs FD fossil depletion FE freshwater eutrophication FU functional unit G glycerol HP high pressure HT human toxicity LCA life cycle assessment LCI life cycle inventory LCOE levelised cost of electricity LCOP levelised cost of product LHV lower heating value LP low pressure MDEA methyl diethanolamine MPG monopropylene glycol NMVOC non-methane volatile organic carbon PBP payback period PEC purchased equipment costs PMF particulate matter formation PO propylene oxide POF photochemical oxidant formation PP polyether polyol PPC polyethercarbonate polyol PSA pressure swing adsorption PU polyurethane R&D research & development REF reference case SA system area TA terrestrial acidification WGS water gas shift
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Published Date

2017

Language

English

Research Group

Energy and Industry

Abstract

CO2 utilisation is gaining interest as a potential element towards a sustainable economy. CO2 can be used as feedstock in the synthesis of fuels, chemicals and polymers. This study presents a prospective assessment of carbon capture from a hydrogen unit at a refinery, where the CO2 is either stored, or partly stored and partly utilised for polyols production. A methodology integrating technical, economic and environmental models with uncertainty analysis is used to assess the performance of carbon capture and storage or utilisation at the refinery. Results show that only 10% of the CO2 captured from an industrial hydrogen unit can be utilised in a commercial-scale polyol plant. This option has limited potential for large scale CO2 mitigation from industrial sources. However, CO2 capture from a hydrogen unit and its utilisation for the synthesis of polyols provides an interesting alternative from an economic perspective. The costs of CO2-based polyol are estimated at 1200 €/t polyol, 16% lower than those of conventional polyol. Furthermore, the costs of storing the remaining CO2 are offset by the benefits of cheaper polyol production. Therefore, the combination of CO2 capture and partial utilisation provides an improved business case over capture and storage alone. The environmental assessment shows that the climate change potential of this CO2 utilisation system is 23% lower compared to a reference case in which no CO2 is captured at the refinery. Five other environmental impact categories included in this study present slightly better performance for the utilisation case than for the reference case.