Evaluating the Performance of a Newly Developed Carbon Capture Device for Mobile Emission Sources

Abstract

In the present study, a new carbon capture device that can be carried on-board vehicles has been developed and tested. The developed device uses absorption and adsorption methods of postcombustion CO2 capture. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) pellets and calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 have been used as solvents and sorbents in the device. The CO2 capture efficiency has been evaluated at a wide range of operating conditions. The results showed that the higher the concentration of the solvent, the higher the capture efficiency, i.e., w 100% capture efficiency, being obtained at full saturation of NaOH. In addition, the increase in the solution temperature increases the capture efficiency up to 50 °C. Design of the gas distributer in the device has also a notable effect on CO2 capture. It was found that solvent prepared with seawater can provide high capture efficiency over a wide range of operation, but in general, it has a lower capture efficiency than that prepared by tap water. Moreover, solvents prepared by NaOH have a superior CO2 capture efficiency over those prepared by Ca(OH)2. For the adsorption technique, a 50% NaOH and 50% Ca(OH) mixture by mass has provided the highest capture efficiency compared with each sorbent when used alone.