The Clean Energy and Fuel Company (CEFCO) Process is a newly patented aerodynamic approach to CO2 and multi-pollutant capture, based on "supersonic free-jet collision scrubbing", employing low-cost shockwaves. CO2, is targeted for removal at 90% efficiency and SO2, NOx, & Hg and other trace metals, particulates (including below 2.5 microns) at 99% removal efficiency. It should be recognized as Utility MACT ("Maximum Achievable Control Technology") compliant for the Power Industry in the upcoming years.
CEFCO Process for CO2 capture is —
An energy-efficient and " profit-making" process versus the currently developed high "energy penalty" CO2 capture cost-centers.
Produces valuable multiple end-products in addition to CO2 versus the current uneconomic processes.
MACT-compliant technology significantly minimizes water and energy consumption compared to the current BACT ("Best Available Control Technology") processes.
For most amine-based Post-Combustion CO2 capture technologies to function effectively they will require the incoming flue gas to be treated containing less than 5 ppm of NOx and 10 ppm of SO2, at levels difficult to achieve continuously, even with integration of multiple-overlapping thermo-chemistry based technologies. Although work on reduction of energy penalty is under way, the "energy penalty" of around 33% on performance and 22.7% auxiliary load on net power sent out have been estimated on a nominal "best case" 800 MWe coal fired power plant and have become conventional expectation of energy penalty in any BACT process.
In contrast, the CEFCO aerodynamic reactor technology long adopted by the US Department of Energy has been in use for radioactive waste incineration in the USA and recognized by US EPA on May 22, 2002 as MACT compliant for Hazardous Waste Combustion. That standard is much more stringent than the current Utility MACT under consideration.