A New Algebraic Pinch Analysis Tool for Optimising CO2 Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Abstract

Optimal CO₂ reduction planning can curb the rise in environmental emissions due to the increase in energy demand and utilisation. Carbon (more precisely, CO₂) Capture and Storage (CCS) has been one of the proposed solutions to control CO₂ emissions. However, mitigating CO₂ emissions via CO₂ storage in geological reservoirs without utilisation is neither a sustainable solution, nor really a clean technology option. This paper introduces a new algebraic method for targeting the optimum CO₂ capture, utilisation and storage based on the Pinch Analysis approach. A new Total Site CO₂ Integration concept is introduced. The concept is to capture CO₂ with certain quality from various plants on the Total Site and inject it into CO₂ headers. The CO₂ headers are divided into certain composition ranges. The CO₂ headers can satisfy the CO₂ demands for various industries located along the headers, which require CO₂ as its raw material. The CO₂ can be further regenerated, and mixed as needed with pure CO₂ generated from one or multiple centralised CO₂ plant if required. The excess CO₂ is to be sent to geological storage. The proper utilisation of CO₂ will reduce the amount of CO₂ needed to be stored. This will extend the geological carbon storage-life capacity. Aside from estimating CO₂ utilisation, this method also allows an industrial site planner to identify the suitable industries that can act as CO₂ sources or CO₂ demands for a given region.