Energy-Efficient Carbon Capture Technology
1 October 2026
Affiliation
NTU
Focus topic
CO2 Capture
Cryogenic capture with flue gas recirculation
Summary
Cryogenic carbon capture is a natural fit for gas-fired power plants and ships, where amine-based systems are often too tall and heavy and still require downstream CO₂ purification. However, conventional cryogenic capture has historically carried an energy penalty roughly twice that of monoethanolamine (MEA) absorption. This technology incorporates system-level process innovations that improve the efficiency of cryogenic carbon capture and reduce energy consumption compared with conventional approaches.
Achievements: Process simulations for a natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) power plant show that the design reduces compressor duty from 124.8 MW to 76.3 MW and lowers the energy-efficiency penalty from 24.95% for a conventional cryogenic capture system to 16.32%, compared with 11.82% for MEA absorption. At these conditions, the process achieves a CO₂ capture rate of 90.3% and a CO₂ product purity of 98.5%. When LNG cold energy is integrated into the system, the efficiency penalty falls further to 12.16%, while CO₂ purity increases to 99.2%.
Carbon abatement potential is strong, as cryogenic capture can achieve high capture rates and yields CO₂ pure enough for direct use or storage.
What makes this novel compared to best-in-class technology?
Unlike conventional cryogenic carbon capture approaches, this technology incorporates process innovations that improve energy efficiency and system performance. By recovering and reusing energy within the process, the technology reduces operational requirements while maintaining stable operation and effective carbon capture.
TRL Level
1-3
Relevant for
Gas turbine power plants and CCGTs, industrial cogeneration, process plants with combustion flue gas
About
Inventors: Khor Jun Onn, Yang Lizhong, Balkumar Basant Kumar Pillai, Sankara Narayanan Viswanathan, Ding Ovi Lian, Alessandro Romagnoli, Liu Wen, Harald Klein
Affiliation: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N); School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE); School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB); TUMCREATE Ltd - the Technical University of Munich (TUM) research platform at the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore
Contact NTU for licensing opportunities and more information.
Please quote ID ref [2026-043] in your email.