A novel process for direct solvent regeneration via solar thermal energy for carbon capture

This paper presents a novel approach by eliminating the costly desorber system and using solar collector pipe (i.e. parabolic trough pipe) to directly heat the rich solvent and disassociate the bonds of CO2-solvent. This novel technology lowers the process capital expenditure, and also reduces the solvent regeneration energy bringing it close to its theoretical values. The elimination of the complex desorber column also increases the flexibility of the PP operation in response for market dynamics. A case-study for Sydney-Australia shows that in comparison with SPCC methodology, this state-of-the-art approach could notably improve the economics of the process and reduce the size of solar collector field (SCF).