A new algebraic pinch analysis tool for optimising CO2capture, utilisation and storage

Abstract

Optimal CO2reduction planning can curb the rise in environmental emissions due to the increase in energy demand and utilisation. Carbon (more precisely, CO2) Capture and Storage (CCS) has been one of the proposed solutions to control CO2emissions. However, mitigating CO2emissions via CO2storage in geological reservoirs without utilisation is neither a sustainable solution, nor really a clean technology option. This paper introduces a new algebraic method for targeting the optimum CO2capture, utilisation and storage based on the Pinch Analysis approach. A new Total Site CO2Integration concept is introduced. The concept is to capture CO2with certain quality from various plants on the Total Site and inject it into CO2headers. The CO2headers are divided into certain composition ranges. The CO2headers can satisfy the CO2demands for various industries located along the headers, which require CO2as its raw material. The CO2can be further regenerated, and mixed as needed with pure CO2generated from one or multiple centralised CO2plant if required. The excess CO2is to be sent to geological storage. The proper utilisation of CO2will reduce the amount of CO2needed to be stored. This will extend the geological carbon storage-life capacity. Aside from estimating CO2utilisation, this method also allows an industrial site planner to identify the suitable industries that can act as CO2sources or CO2demands for a given region.