Optimal conception of a post-combustion CO2 capture unit with assessment of solvent degradation

The combination of growing energy demand and environmental concerns has made the development of CO2 capture and storage technologies a necessity for the near-future energy mix. Post-combustion CO2 capture is one of the most mature technologies for reducing CO2 emissions in power plants. As a next step for the technology development, large-scale demonstration capture plants have to be implemented. However, two major drawbacks still affect the implementation of post-combustion capture: the high capture cost and the degradation of solvents leading to potential emissions of degradation products to the atmosphere. In the present study, both aspects are considered.