CO₂ Recovery from Industrial Flue Gas
Unlike fermentation gas, industrial flue gas generally contains a lower concentration of CO₂ together with large amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, and other combustion-related impurities. The high gas volume and relatively low CO₂ concentration make efficient separation and purification essential.
YTC selects the appropriate process configuration according to the actual characteristics of the flue gas. The system can integrate flue gas pretreatment, CO₂ capture, regeneration, purification, drying, liquefaction, and liquid CO₂ storage into a complete recovery solution.
Typical Applications
• Coal- and gas-fired power plants
• Steel plants
• Cement plants
• Lime plants
• Industrial boiler systems
• Other combustion-based industrial facilities
MEA-Based CO₂ Capture Technology
For low-concentration flue gas, MEA-based chemical absorption technology can be applied to selectively capture CO₂ from the gas stream.
After appropriate flue gas pretreatment, the gas enters the absorption section, where CO₂ is absorbed by the amine solution. The CO₂-rich solution is then transferred to the regeneration section, where controlled heating releases concentrated CO₂ for subsequent purification and liquefaction.
The absorption and regeneration conditions are optimized according to the feed gas composition and required CO₂ recovery performance.
Flue Gas CO₂ Recovery Process
1. Flue Gas Pretreatment
The incoming flue gas is treated to remove particulate matter, moisture, and other contaminants that may affect the CO₂ capture system. Appropriate pretreatment helps protect downstream equipment and improve system stability.
2. CO₂ Absorption
The pretreated flue gas enters the absorber, where the CO₂ is selectively absorbed by the MEA solution. The treated flue gas, with a reduced CO₂ concentration, is discharged from the absorption section.
3. CO₂ Desorption and Regeneration
The CO₂-rich absorption solution is heated in the regeneration section. The captured CO₂ is released from the solution and recovered as a concentrated gas stream, while the regenerated absorbent is returned to the absorption system.
4. CO₂ Purification
The recovered CO₂ is further treated to remove residual moisture and other impurities. Depending on the feed gas composition, additional purification stages can be incorporated to meet the required product specification.
5. CO₂ Drying
Advanced drying technology removes remaining water from the CO₂ stream. Effective dehydration is essential for reliable liquefaction and stable long-term operation.
6. CO₂ Liquefaction
The purified and dried CO₂ is cooled through an integrated refrigeration system and converted into liquid CO₂. Non-condensable gases are separated during the liquefaction process.
7. Final Purification
Additional purification or stripping can be applied when required to further reduce residual impurities. Depending on the feed gas composition and process configuration, the system can produce high-purity CO₂ up to 99.998%.
8. Liquid CO₂ Storage
The recovered liquid CO₂ is transferred to insulated storage tanks for on-site use, transportation, or commercial distribution.
Challenges of Flue Gas CO₂ Recovery
Industrial flue gas presents different challenges from high-concentration CO₂ sources. Depending on the fuel and combustion process, the gas may contain:
Low CO₂ concentration · Large gas volume · High temperature · Water vapor · O₂ · N₂ · Particulates · SOx · NOx and other trace impurities
YTC designs the pretreatment, capture, purification, and liquefaction stages according to the actual gas conditions to achieve reliable operation and the required CO₂ product quality.
Benefits of Flue Gas CO₂ Recovery
- Reduce CO₂ Emissions
Capturing CO₂ from industrial flue gas can reduce direct emissions and support carbon management and utilization strategies.
- Recover a Valuable Resource
Instead of releasing CO₂ with the flue gas, the recovered gas can be purified and converted into a usable product.
- Produce High-Purity Liquid CO₂
With appropriate purification and liquefaction processes, recovered CO₂ can be produced as high-purity liquid CO₂ for a range of industrial and commercial applications.
- Improve Resource Utilization
CO₂ recovery enables industrial facilities to make better use of an existing process stream while supporting more efficient carbon utilization.
- Customized Process Design
Flue gas composition and operating conditions vary between industries and plants. YTC develops the process configuration according to the actual feed gas, rather than applying a single standard solution to every project.
Applications of Recovered CO₂
Depending on the final product specification and applicable regulations, recovered liquid CO₂ can be used for:
• Dry ice production
• Food and beverage processing
• Greenhouse CO₂ enrichment
• Chemical processing
• Water treatment
• Industrial gas applications
• Welding and metal processing
• Commercial liquid CO₂ supply
YTC Flue Gas CO₂ Recovery Solution
YTC provides integrated CO₂ capture, purification, liquefaction, storage, and EPC solutions for industrial flue gas.
With 16+ years of experience in CO₂ treatment and recovery and 200+ projects completed worldwide, YTC combines process engineering, equipment manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and technical support within a single project solution.
Each system is designed according to the customer’s flue gas composition, CO₂ concentration, gas flow rate, operating conditions, required recovery rate, and final CO₂ specification.
From flue gas pretreatment to liquid CO₂ storage, YTC helps industrial customers capture CO₂ efficiently, reduce emissions, recover valuable carbon resources, and convert industrial flue gas into high-purity liquid CO₂.
