Compression Solutions for Large Scale Carbon Capture Deployment

Compression Solutions for Large Scale Carbon Capture Deployment

Mark J. Kuzdzal

Director, Business Development 

Dresser-Rand

Reciprocating and centrifugal compressors have a longstanding reputation in the oil and gas business sector.  Dresser-Rand has supplied reciprocating and centrifugal compressors for CO₂ compression for more than 80 years with more than 400 CO₂ compressors totaling over 900,000 BHP (671 MW).  It is believed to be the largest installed base of CO₂ compression equipment in the world.  Nevertheless, innovation and development continues on strong.  This presentation will discuss experience with existing centrifugal and reciprocating compression technology, then provide a technology status update on internally cooled in-line compressor testing and finally discuss testing result of the high ratio supersonic CO₂ compressor.   

The first CO₂ re-injection project developed specifically to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions began operation in August 1996 in the North Sea.  As of January 2015, 15.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 have been injected at this site (approximately 0.75 million metric tonnes of CO₂ per year) via centrifugal compressor technology. The CO₂ is captured by an amine plant and stored in a saline aquifer. The objective is to reduce the CO₂ content in the methane from 9 percent to 2.5 percent, so that the methane can be exported as “sales gas”. Compressor availability has been reported at 98 to 99 percent.

Currently the team is concluding development of the next generation of low-cost, high-efficiency CO₂ compressors. The team has developed supersonic compression technology for use on high molecular weight gases and is currently testing a 10:1 pressure ratio, 10,700 HP (8 MW), 2,215 PSIA (152 bar) discharge pressure unit in Olean NY.  This unit is capable of compressing in excess of 3500 tonnes of CO₂ per day or the equivalent of 90% capture of a 200 MWe coal fired power plant. Furthermore, the technology can be scaled too much larger sizes via future R&D.  The primary goal is a low-cost, high-efficiency CO₂ compressor that will reduce the overall capital and operating costs of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).  High ratio supersonic compression technology is expected to represent a significant advancement for many compressor applications, and specifically for CO₂ compression.

Dresser-Rand has also been developing an internally cooled in-line centrifugal compressor and has delivered the prototype to a third party laboratory.   Testing of this machine has been completed and results will be presented.    

This presentation will discuss experience with existing centrifugal and reciprocating compression technology, then provide a technology status update on internally cooled in-line compressor testing and finally discuss testing result of the high ratio supersonic CO₂ compressor