ASCENT (www.ascentproject.eu) will provide a
robust proof-of-concept of three related high
temperature processes for the separation of
CO2 from gaseous streams; each will lead to a
step-change in efficiency of carbon removal in three types of
pre-combustion capture, producing the hydrogen needed
for highly efficient low-carbon power production. The project
brings together small and medium enterprises preparing to
launch these concepts with the support of leading research
institutes, universities and industrial partners.
The essential feature linking the three technologies is the
use of a high temperature solid sorbent for the simultaneous
separation of CO2 during conversion of other carbon
containing gases (CO and CH4) into H2. Each technology
has the ability to provide a step-change in efficiency
because they all separate the CO2 at elevated temperatures
(>300°C) providing for more efficient heat integration
options not available in technologies where the separation
occurs at lower temperatures. Each process matches
both endothermic and exothermic heat requirements
of associated reactions and sorbent regeneration in an
integrated in situ approach.
The synergies between the three technologies are strong,
allowing both multiple interactions between the different
work packages and allowing a consistent framework for
cross-cutting activities across all the technologies. Each
technology will be proven under industrially relevant
conditions of pressure and temperature, at a scale that
allows the use of industrially relevant materials that can be
manufactured at a scale needed for real implementation.
This represents a necessary step to be taken for each of
the technologies before setting out on the route to future
demonstration level activities.
ASCENT, Advanced Solid Cycles with Efficient Novel
Technologies, addresses the need for original ideas to
reduce the energy penalty associated with capturing carbon
dioxide during power generation, and create a sustainable
market for low carbon emission power with low associated
energy penalties.
The unifying concept of the ASCENT project is the high
temperature CO2 capture during production of hydrogen
fuel by means of the steam-methane reforming and
associated water-gas shift reaction. The conditions under
which the hydrogen fuel is produced is inherently optimized
for highly efficient electricity generation (both gas turbines
and fuel cells).
Improved heat integration options become available than for comparable low temperature capture processes, where the possibility for simultaneous reactions will be limited.
Together, these three major advantages can be usefully
implemented by several competing technologies with yet
another unifying concept in that reactive solid materials
are needed in all cases. These materials must be able to
be carbonated (or reduced) and regenerated (or oxidised)
in a cyclic fashion. Lab scale experimentation under highly
idealised conditions, not highly representative of industrial
scale applications have shown the feasibility and advantages
of all three of these technologies. ASCENT aims to provide a
robust proof-of-concept of these technologies using industrially
relevant materials under industrially relevant conditions.
Contact details:
www.ascentproject.eu
ENEA - C.R.Casaccia
Dept. of Technologies for Energy
Via Anguillarese 301 - S.P. 081, 00123,
Santa Maria di Galeria, Rome
Tel: +3906 3048 4494
Fax: +3906 3048 4811
Email: stefano.stendardo@enea.it