In recent times, alarming reports about the climate have succeeded each other, the levels of
carbon
dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere are increasing rather than decreasing.
At the
same time, the “Hydrogen Society” is approaching fast, the storage of carbon dioxide with
so-called
CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technology is being developed, with greater and cheaper
storage
possibilities for captured carbon dioxide from combustion plants. The price of CO2 emissions
has
increased in recent years from 5 to over 90 €/tonne in the carbon trading system. The
transition
towards a more sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally smart society is on the
rise.
We have communicated in previous press releases that ECOMB will have a given part of this
future
society. We are now launching a very interesting solution.
Ecotube Zero is our new concept which means that all flue gas can be recirculated to the
boiler with
the chimney becoming redundant. Emissions to the atmosphere will be close to zero. Only a
partial
stream of the flue gas is separated for final storage using CCS technology. The use of pure
oxygen in
combustion applications and the recirculation of flue gases to boilers is nothing new, the
so-called
"Oxyfuel technology" has been tested in various contexts - now with Ecotube Zero we are
bringing
this technology to the next level.
Ecotube Zero is a new development in our Ecotube portfolio, offering a short lead time to
the finished
commercial product and a first installation in a power plant boiler.
It is about eliminating the nitrogen from the combustion process - pure oxygen is now
supplied to the
boilers instead of air (containing 79% nitrogen). But no conventional combustion chamber or
furnace
in the world can substitute combustion air with pure oxygen, the material problems would be
excessive. Therefore, the flue gas, which then contains only carbon dioxide and water vapor,
will be
recycled to the furnace. This means, chemically, that carbon dioxide (CO2) has substituted
nitrogen
(N2) in the combustion process. Our calculations have shown that the properties of carbon
dioxide as
an energy carrier in the furnace are slightly better than those of nitrogen.
By means of modified Ecotubes - Ecotube Zero - the final combustion can take place with
minimal
excess oxygen. This means that separated carbon dioxide can maintain a very high purity,
which will
significantly reduce the cost of CCS technology.
We can thus combine the "Hydrogen Society" (an electrolyser form 8 kg of oxygen for each kg
of
hydrogen) and CCS technology with the new Ecotube Zero concept.
A patent application for the new innovation has recently been filed.
During last year, we have intensified customer contacts with this in mind, but it is only
now that we
will be able to go out with more complete information about the new concept.
We expect the following from this new technology;
- Near-zero emissions of flue gases into the atmosphere, chimneys can eventually be
dismantled
- Minimal oxygen excesses in the gas for carbon capture with CCS technology
- Reduced costs of CCS technology
- Minimal NOx emissions without the use of chemicals such as ammonia and urea
- Today's market prices for CO2 emission allowances allow for a faster introduction of the
technology with shorter payback periods
- Equally relevant for both new and old boilers