Demonstration of the next-gen CO2 separation membrane technology

The separation membrane technology, where the size of the molecules of the gas and the differences in their speed are used to separate CO2 selectively, can be customized and applied to various applications. Developed through a joint R&D project with a South Korean SMB, Arstroma, the high-permeability polymer separation membrane has been the foundation for the 1MW CO2 separation membrane test bed set up in Dangjin Thermal Unit 5 that was completed in in October 2017. Once established, the test equipment showed a CO2 purity level of 96% and a capturing ratio of 90%. Currently, the plant is under a long-term durability test through in a continuous operation.

Developed Chemical Looping Combustion- based CO2 capturing technology

In Chemical Looping Combustion, The oxygen to be used for burring the fuel is provided as pure oxygen by the solid oxygen carriers, so that the boiler functions as a CO2 capturing equipment at the same time. A 0.5MWth pilot implementation of this technology is now being developed. KEPCO successfully developed the solid oxygen carrier of the highest performance in the world with its own technology and is now testing the tech in a 0.5 MWth pilot establishment. Without a separate CO2 capturing equipment, it is possible to obtain 98% pure CO2 from the exhaust gas of the boiler.

[ Oxygen carrier ]	[ Chemical Looping Combustion flow chart ]

High value-added technology for CO2 in connection with salt-water electrolysis

This technology uses electrolysis of salt water and carbonatation of CO2 to produce high value-added compounds or chemicals such as sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen, or chlorine. Through a high-efficiency carbonatation reaction process, we have achieved more than 90% CO2 conversion ratio, with the purity of the sodium bicarbonate produced by the process reaching 99%. In addition, we developed a low-energy-consumption salt-water electrolysis process, which can save the energy by more than 10% compared to the existing technology. Based on these achievements, we designed and developed a mobile pilot plant that is capable of processing 200kg of CO2 per day. We are planning to use this pilot equipment to secure the necessary data for the core designing and operating of the demo plant.

Development of the methanation technology to convert CO2 using a bio-electrochemical process utilizing micro-organisms

The CO2 methanation technology uses micro-organisms and reducing agents (such as hydrogen, electricity, or organic acid, etc.) to convert CO2 collected from the power plant into methane (CH4) under the atmospheric pressure and temperature. This will reduce the carbon foot print in the country . Not only that, this leading power-to-gas technology can be used as a long-term, large-scale energy storage technology that can be linked up with renewable energy technologies. KEPCO Research Institute secured the new species of methane producing micro-organisms that had not been reported in anywhere in the world before through its own R&D efforts to develop methane-producing micro-organisms. At the same time, the institute completed the development and establishment of the 5kW bio-electrochemical CO2 methanation system. By further upgrading the design and demonstrating the technology, the institute plans to lead the development of carbon emission reduction technologies use this technology as the long-term, large-capacity energy storage technology for storing renewable energies that can be linked up with the Government’s 3020 Renewable Energy Initiative.

Development and demonstration of the simultaneous PM/NOx treatment technology for diesel power generation

The government plans to reduce the fine dust emission in South Korea by 30% by 2022. This plan includes mid/long-term action plans to strengthen the emission criteria for power plants in island areas. In order to address the environmental regulation issues in advance, the company has successfully developed a PM/NOx simultaneous treatment system and demonstrated this new system in connection with the 500kW diesel engine in Wido Island Internal Combustion Power Plant, which is the first time ever in South Korea. The company is planning to transfer and commercialize the new technology. Currently, the institute is continuing the development effort to develop a catalyst filter system that combines a denitrification catalyst with a dust filter, so that the volume of the reactor of the existing system can be reduced dramatically. At the same time, this new technology will be available to the land power plants including those on 65 islands with a minimal capital investment, while the tech can also be useful in the shipping industry.

Developed and demonstrated the world’s most advanced CO2 capturing technology

Our dry CO2 capturing technology that uses solid absorbents and fluid layers was implemented as a 10MW capturing plant, which was the first and the largest in the history of the world in 2014 within Hadong Terminal Powerplant Unit 8 of Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd. Since the opening of the facility, it has a track record of 10,000 hours of accumulated operation and 1500 hours of continuous operation. Based on this achievement, the company completed the basic design for 150 capturing equipment dry type CO2 capturing plant (FEED). And, we are still conducting R&D programs to make the technology even more perfect by reflecting improvement requests we received so far

Secured the track record for commercializing the wet CO2 capturing technology.

After a combustion equivalent to 10MW, the pilot equipment of the CO2 capturing technology successfully operated for 5,000 hours without a failure. The pilot wet CO2 capturing equipment that was installed as the largest of its kind in Boryeong Thermal Power Unit 8 in May 2013. The equipment is capable of capturing 200 tons of CO2 per day and more than 70,000 tons per year. The equipment, utilizing the newly developed high-efficiency and low-energy-consumption absorbent (KoSol : Korea Solvent) showed a capturing efficiency of more than 90% and 99.9% purity, while consuming only 2.5GJ/ton-CO2 or less, which is quite impressive. Based on these achievements, the company is currently conducting a medium-scale, integrated validation research project for the wet CO2 capturing technology in connection with CO2 compression/liquefaction.