Study of the Application of CCUS in a WtE Italian Plant

Abstract

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) contains materials of biogenic and non-biogenic origin. When incinerated, the biogenic component produces CO2, which does not lead to an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. For WtE plants operating on MSW with a significant biogenic component, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) can provide a path to negative CO2 emissions by producing energy and managing locally produced waste. This work focuses on the study of a process for treating a flue gas stream from WtE in an Italian context, i.e. the incinerator plant located in Como, to remove CO2 that is, then, planned to be utilized. The CO2 capture process is based on chemical absorption by two different amine solvents: MonoEthanolAmine and Piperazine. The design of the CO2 removal section has been carried out specifically for the considered flue gas to be treated, containing about 7 mol % CO2, by selecting the main process parameters (e.g., absorber packing height, regenerator packing height, lean loading, gas inlet temperature, solvent inlet temperature, regenerator pressure) in order to optimize the reboiler duty and the water requirement. The performances of the two processes have been compared for the same 90 % removal of CO2.