Controlling Amine Mist Formation in CO2 Capture from Residual Catalytic Cracker (RCC) Flue Gas

Aker Solutions has developed a novel emission control system involving the combination of anti-mist design and an acid wash polishing step. This concept was tested at a 200 kg/h CO2 Mobile Test Unit (MTU) operating on flue gas from a Residual Catalytic Cracker (RCC). It was found that the RCC gas contained relatively high concentration of H2SO4 mist (up to 33 mg/Nm3) compared to what is typically seen from a modern coal-fired power station. The high concentration of H2SO4 nuclei generated high amine emission (>200 ppm) when the MTU was operated in conventional mode. On the other hand when the MTU was operated in anti-mist mode the emissions were greatly reduced and amine emissions down to 2 ppm were confirmed by manual emission measurements. A test with conventional mist abatement technology (Brownian diffusion filter) installed upstream the MTU was also performed. It was shown that the filter had large removal efficiency of H2SO4, however still significant amine emissions persisted when the MTU was not operated in anti-mist mode. The results clearly demonstrate that the Aker Solutions’ Anti-Mist design is an attractive option for mist abatement compared to conventional technology.