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a b s t r a c tThe successful deployment of any technology depends on many important factors. One of the critical ones that affect the success of post combustion CO 2 capture technologies is the ability to reduce the increase in cost of electricity associated with retrofitting the capture unit to electricity generating power plants.High capture costs associated with conventional MEA solvent processes has opened an opportunity for the emergence of many competing technologies aimed at reducing the cost of capture. This paper presents the technical and economic benchmarking of a polyethyleneimine (PEI)-based solid sorbent CO 2 capture process as compared to the conventional MEA solvent process, with both technologies applied to a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant.The results of this evaluation indicate that the PEI-based sorbent process requires approximately 25% less regeneration steam than the conventional MEA process primarily due to avoiding the energy demand required for heat of vaporization of water in the MEA process. The PEI solid sorbent based process results in approximately 6.3 power plant efficiency point reduction as opposed to an 8 efficiency points for the MEA based process. The design of the fluidized-bed absorption and regeneration reactors in the novel solid sorbent process result in significant reductions in capital costs (21% reduction compared to MEA). The economic evaluation shows that the PEI-based solid sorbent process offers attractive reductions in the cost of electricity and the CO 2 capture cost. The estimated cost of electricity, after adding the CO 2 capture process, is found to be 85 and 81.7 $/kWh for the MEA-based and PEI based process, respectively. Moreover, the cost of CO 2 avoided for both process is estimated to be 69.8 and 62 $/ton CO 2 for the MEA and PEI process, respectively.

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Natural gas liquids (NGLs) are the main contributor to the profitability of natural gas processing plants. During the recent period of relatively low natural gas prices, NGLs spot prices have experienced a slower drop remaining relatively steady. Therefore, switching the operation of existing facilities towards a higher NGL production can lead to a more profitable position. In this work, we develop and implement model-based optimization solutions on a selection of NGL plants in order to improve the profitability of the facility. Such analysis is meaningful only when high-fidelity validated first-principles models are employed within an equation oriented environment using rigorous mathematically formulated optimization algorithms which guarantee that the optimal solution satisfies all safety and operational constraints. In this work, an equation oriented commercial process simulator is utilized which offers unique optimization capabilities of very large and complex process flowsheets. In this paper we demonstrate the practical benefits of Advanced Model-based Optimization through a case study of an NGL Plant in Abu Dhabi. The workflow is discussed starting from model formulation and validation, to optimization and assessment of the optimal operational strategy. We also discuss how the deployment of such model-based optimization activities can be used to develop operating guidelines that allow operators to drive the plant towards optimal operation and address a range of operational situations; giving them the ability to respond to changes in the plant or economic conditions quicker and with more confidence than previously possible.

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