Field testing experience of high efficiency flue gas filtration impact on amine carbon capture plant performance

More stringent emission limit values and the integration of carbon capture (CC) technologies into industrial plants introduces more stringent requirements on upstream flue gas cleaning performance in the fabric filter. Fine particulate matter, aerosols, acid gases, and trace contaminants can negatively impact CC system availability, solvent stability, carbon capture efficiency, and operational costs. Consequently, high performance upstream flue gas cleaning and filter bags with high separation efficiency is a fundamental prerequisite to future‑proof plants for carbon capture.

Fabric Filters (FF) combined with dry flue gas treatment systems, such as the ANDRITZ NID process, provide a robust and proven solution to achieve ultra‑low particulate emissions and stable flue gas conditions.

Andritz together with AWG have performed field testing of an amine-based carbon capture pilot at the AWG Wuppertal waste to energy plant.

AWG Wuppertal has been operating since 1976, burning ~415,000 t/a of waste to produce 130 000MWh electricity, and 470 000MWh of heat to the corridor Elberfeld → Barmen → Oberbarmen, Küllenhahn → Ronsdorf, and Elberfeld‑Süd.

A. Flue‑gas cleaning includes six boilers with electrostatic precipitators for primary de dusting, Fabric filter and ANDRITZ NID with integrated fabric filter, and advanced stages HOK (activated‑coke) and SCR (selective catalytic reduction). The performance of each of these systems determines the quality of gas delivered to any downstream CCS unit impacting performance, operating cost and maintenance.

Field experience from AWG Wuppertal, where a carbon capture pilot plant has been operated downstream of an ANDRITZ NID system. For cost efficient and reliable carbon capture performance the field test shows the importance of very high performing fabric filter upstream the carbon capture system.