Progress in Development of Carbon Capture Systems Based on Electrochemical Membrane Technology

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE) has developed a novel system concept for separation of carbon dioxide from greenhouse gas emission sources using an electrochemical membrane (ECM). The salient feature of the ECM is its capability to produce power while capturing CO2 from flue gas, such as from an existing pulverized coal (PC) plant. Laboratory scale testing of the ECM has verified the feasibility of the technology for CO2 separation from simulated flue gases of PC plants as well as combined cycle power plants and other industrial facilities. Under contract (DE-FE0007634) from the U.S. Department of Energy, FCE is evaluating the use of ECM to efficiently and cost effectively separate carbon dioxide from the emissions of existing coal fired power plants. The overarching objective of the project is to verify that the ECM can achieve at least 90% CO2 capture from flue gas of an existing PC plant with no more than 35% increase in the cost of electricity (COE) produced by the plant. The specific objectives and related activities planned for the project include: 1) conduct bench scale tests of a planar membrane assembly consisting of ten or more cells of about 0.8 m2 area each, 2) develop the detailed design for an ECM-based CO2 capture system applied to an existing PC plant, and 3) evaluate the effects of impurities (pollutants such as SO2, NOx, Hg) present in the coal plant flue gas by conducting laboratory scale performance tests of the membrane. The results of this project are anticipated to demonstrate that the ECM is an advanced technology, fabricated from inexpensive materials, based on proven operational track records, modular, scalable to large sizes, and a viable candidate for >90% carbon capture from existing PC plants. This presentation will describe the fundamentals of ECM technology including: material of construction, principle mechanisms of operation, carbon capture test results and the benefits of applications to PC plants.