3D-printing of adsorbents for increased productivity in carbon capture applications (3D-CAPS)

An important driver in the development of adsorption-based CO2 capture technologies is the reduction of cost through increasing the productivity. The 3D-CAPS project aims to increase the productivity (kg CO2/m3hr) of such technologies through structuring, enabled by 3D-printing. This productivity increase would allow for a reduction of the size of the adsorbers and the associated CAPEX and/or energy requirements. Pre-combustion, as well as post-combustion technologies, are investigated using potassium-promoted hydrotalcite (K-HTC) for sorption-enhanced water-gas shift (SEWGS) and amine-functionalized silica (ImmoAmmo) as sorbents, respectively. This contribution presents a technical overview highlighting several aspects of the project ranging from CFD modelling to assess the shape of the sorbents, 3D-printing of the sorbent materials as well as testing of the ImmoAmmo sorbent for post-combustion capture applications. It is discussed how several essential elements of the productivity improvement have been separately proven in the 3D-CAPS project, both by modelling and experimentally: maintained adsorption capacity upon 3D-printing, reduced pressure drop, and improved mass transfer.

Automated summary

The 3D-CAPS project focuses on increasing the productivity of CO2 capture technologies through 3D-printing, aiming to reduce the size of adsorbers and associated costs. The project involves research on improving adsorption capacity, reducing pressure drop, and enhancing mass transfer as key elements of productivity improvement.