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Coating May Help Handle Dirty Super-Critical CO2

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Scientists are working on development of an anti-corrosion protective coating for the interior of pipelines and process equipment involved in post-combustion carbon capture at fossil fuel plants.

The project, based at North Dakota State University, is one of 43 initiatives receiving a total of more than $12.7 million in grants from the National Energy Technology Lab to study carbon dioxide sequestration processes that could minimize carbon emissions. Most of the funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

NETL and NDSU are partnering on the $289,949, three-year coatings project, titled “Development of Protective Coatings for CO-Sequestration Processes and Pipelines.”

Taking on Dirty Super-Critical CO2

The team says its work could prove beneficial in protecting pipelines and process equipment “used in the transport and final stages of the CO-sequestration process of post-combustion flue gases emitted from fossil fuel power plants and other potential stresses resulting from CO2-SO2-O2-NOx-H2O mixtures, commonly known dirty Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide (dSCCO2).”

Research into technologies that capture and store carbon dioxide is getting increased attention.  These technologies offer great potential for reducing CO2 emissions and, in turn, mitigating global climate change without adversely influencing energy use or hindering economic growth, the researchers note.

Research Goals and Benefits

An internal protective coating system is expected to be more cost-effective than the overly expensive alloys currently required for piping, the researchers say.

The project goals include:
 
• Identifying and screening coating candidates for possible use as internal pipeline linings;

• Developing protocols for evaluating coatings; and

• Evaluating lining, cathodic protection, and external insulation for impact on corrosion.

Expected benefits include the development of design criteria for prototype protective coatings for dirty Super-Critical CO2 handling in process equipment and pipelines, as well as a set of tests that could be used to qualify such coatings for use, and an initial list of the substrates for which these coatings are effective.

“Ultimately, these coatings may ensure the health and safety of pipelines employed in co-sequestration of dSCCO2 without the use of costly specialty alloys,” the researchers wrote in a project summary.

Scope and Method

The work will begin with design considerations for polymers, hybrid coatings, and possible metal/inorganic coatings that resist sequestration fluid under piping delivery conditions, the researchers said.

The project will draw on past studies of polymers that resist dirty Super-Critical CO2 as well as new developments in coating (organic, hybrid, inorganic, or metallic) science. Preliminary systems design will begin with pipeline materials characterization studies for dSCCO2.

“Tradeoffs between corrosion mitigation by pipeline material choice alone vs. coatings on less-resistant, but economically more attractive, pipeline materials will be examined as the project proceeds,” researchers said.

They added: “The project will extend the development of corrosion/coating quality sensors for use on external pipeline surfaces as well as develop sensors for internal pipe surfaces. This research will be concurrent with studies to develop potential coatings for these surfaces.”

For more information, visit www.netl.doe.gov.