Material testing for future commercial post-combustion capture plants–Results of the testing programme conducted at the Niederaussem pilot plant.

Abstract: One major part of the cooperation of RWE Power, BASF and Linde, which is aiming at an advanced optimised CO₂-scrubbing technology for power plant applications, was the construction and commissioning of the first post-combustion capture pilot plant in Germany at the lignite-fired 1,000 MW_el power station Niederaussem. The testing programme executed in the pilot plant is not only focusing on the energy demand for CO₂ capture, solvent stability and emissions but also comprises an extensive material testing programme. Steel and plastic samples, tubes and flanges are located in different positions in the plant (pre-scrubber unit, absorber, desorber) to investigate material resistance at a wide range of specific process conditions (temperature, pressure, solvent loading, gas/solvent stream). Coupons made of different grades of stainless steel and plastic were placed in eight different positions. Tubes and flanges made of stainless steel and glass fibre-reinforced plastic were located in five different positions. In addition, a temperature-controlled concrete module equipped with a plastic in-liner was incorporated into the pilot plant. And, finally, different types of gaskets were tested. The testing programme started in mid-2009 with a six-month campaign using 30%-weight MEA as a benchmark solvent. At the beginning of 2010, the testing campaign with the new optimised solvent from BASF was started. This paper summarises the examination methodology based on non-destructive and destructive measurements and discusses some of the results obtained for both testing phases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]