Integrated Process Simulation and Economic Evaluation of Onboard CO₂ Capture Using Optimized Amine Blends.

Area of Science:

• Marine Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Onboard carbon capture (OCC) is crucial for reducing maritime emissions.
• Amine-based solvents are primary candidates for CO2 absorption in OCC systems.
• Energy efficiency and equipment footprint are key challenges for maritime OCC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize amine solvent systems and blends for efficient onboard carbon capture.
• To evaluate energy performance indicators including reboiler duty and CO2 loading capacity.
• To assess the economic feasibility of OCC systems on ships.

Main Methods:

• Simulation of various single and blended amine solvents (MEA, DEA, MDEA, MDEA/PZ blend).
• Integration of a waste heat boiler (WHB) for thermal energy recovery.
• Optimization of operational variables (engine load, pressures, temperatures, flow rates) and equipment sizing.

Main Results:

• WHB integration reduced reboiler duty by 65.8%.
• A 20 wt% MDEA + 10 wt% PZ blend showed the lowest energy consumption.
• Optimized OCC systems with a 20 wt% MDEA + 10 wt% PZ blend demonstrated economic competitiveness under a carbon tax.

Conclusions:

• Amine solvent optimization and WHB integration are effective for energy-efficient OCC.
• The MDEA/PZ blend offers superior performance for maritime carbon capture.
• OCC technology presents a viable economic pathway for decarbonizing shipping.