SR19007 - Future TCAP Implementation Issues

Abstract

This project demonstrates the success of the PDRD program in bringing a concept from the R&D phase to direct plant funding. Although Mini-TCAP technology is overall at a TRL of ~6.5, the specific questions addressed in this project were brought from a low (2-3 TRL) to a TRL 5 over the course of the project. This project successfully completed all initial goals ahead of schedule (inventory control, guard bed, ammonia impact, and cycle time) and furthermore addressed additional scope (continued TCAP evaluation, ion chamber) in FY20. First, this project resolved minor inventory control issues by introducing a new parameter tracking and correcting for inventory changes over multiple cycles. This project also involved modification of the previously constructed plant-configured Mini-TCAP in order to allow ammonia impurity studies. TCAP was tested with ammonia in the feed stream both with and without a guard bed present to determine guard bed efficacy and the effect of ammonia if it enters TCAP. The TCAP columns were then replaced with brazed columns, where the LN2 cooling coil is brazed to the column and the column is self-brazed along the coils. This drastically improved heat transfer and consequently reduced cycle time compared to the previous columns, in which the coils were mechanically held in place. Finally, additional scopes were taken on in FY20, including evaluation of TCAP with faster cycle time and procurement of ion chambers for future TCAP integration.