Page 28 - European Energy Innovation - Winter 2016 publication

28 Winter 2016 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

ASCENT will provide a robust proof-of-
concept of three related high temperature
processes for CO2 separation

A SCENT (ww.ascentproject.eu) will provide a Improved heat integration options become available than
robust proof-of-concept of three related high for comparable low temperature capture processes, where
temperature processes for the separation of the possibility for simultaneous reactions will be limited
CO2from gaseous streams; each will lead to a
step-change in efficiency of carbon removal in three types of Together, these three major advantages can be usefully
pre-combustion capture, producing the hydrogen needed implemented by several competing technologies with yet
for highly efficient low-carbon power production. The project another unifying concept in that reactive solid materials
brings together small and medium enterprises preparing to are needed in all cases. These materials must be able to
launch these concepts with the support of leading research be carbonated (or reduced) and regenerated (or oxidised)
institutes, universities and industrial partners. in a cyclic fashion. Lab scale experimentation under highly
idealised conditions, not highly representative of industrial
The essential feature linking the three technologies is the scale applications have shown the feasibility and advantages
use of a high temperature solid sorbent for the simultaneous of all three of these technologies. ASCENT aims to provide a
separation of CO2 during conversion of other carbon robust proof-of-concept of these technologies using industrially
containing gases (CO and CH4) into H2. Each technology relevant materials under industrially relevant conditions. l
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 Figure 1 Conceptual cycles for the ASCENT technologies:
Technologies, addresses the need for original ideas to Ca-Cu, CSHIFT and SER reaction systems respectively.
reduce the energy penalty associated with capturing carbon
dioxide during power generation, and create a sustainable Contact details:
market for low carbon emission power with low associated www.ascentproject.eu
energy penalties. ENEA - C.R.Casaccia
Dept. of Technologies for Energy
The unifying concept of the ASCENT project is the high Via Anguillarese 301 - S.P. 081, 00123,
temperature CO2 capture during production of hydrogen Santa Maria di Galeria, Rome
fuel by means of the steam-methane reforming and Tel: +3906 3048 4494
associated water-gas shift reaction. The conditions under Fax: +3906 3048 4811
which the hydrogen fuel is produced is inherently optimized Email: stefano.stendardo@enea.it
for highly efficient electricity generation (both gas turbines
and fuel cells).

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