The document summarizes the design of the ACTTROM advanced capture testing system. It can test gas and liquid samples on-site, with features like gas and liquid flow monitoring, storage tanks, safety systems, and remote operation/monitoring via internet. It has completed construction and programming, and demonstrated water testing. Next steps involve securing a site to deploy and test it on actual flue gas samples.

1. ACTTROM Advanced Capture Testing in a Transportable Remote-Operated Minilab

2. ACTTROM V0.1: Design Overview
Features
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Communications: 3G internet access and optional broadband connection
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Flow rates: c. 1 l/min mains water and c. 8 l/min of flue gas
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Liquid inventory: 25 litres of solvent, 10 litres of 50% propylene glycol in water, 20 litres mains water, 15 litres deionised water.
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Inlet gas conditioning: direct contact cooler and knockout drum
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Outlet gas conditioning: condenser and activated carbon adsorption filter
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Analysis: O2 and CO2 monitoring on inlet and outlet gas lines (ammonia sensor to be retrofitted on outlet)
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Measurement: temperature, flow, level and pressure at key points within the system to log experimental conditions and enable remote fault identification
•
Safety: Fire alarms system, automatic fire extinguishers, low pressure relief ensures that no equipment in the unit is classified as a pressure system.
Requirements
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Utilities: 30kW 3-phase power supply, mains water supply and drain
•
Site requirements: level area, typically at least 5m x 10m with good road access and within 50m (piping length) of the gas sampling point

3. ACTTROM V0.1: Process Diagrams
Water
Inventory
Knockout
drum
Spray
nozzle
Packed
column
Flue
gas in
Mains top-up via
float ball valve
Continuous
overflow
Emergency
overflow
Water
cooler
(1:1 MPG
+ water
coolant)
Gear
pump
Diaphragm
pump
Flue
gas out
Droplet
drain
Solvent
tank
Overflow
tank
Air stones
Float switch
Reflux
condenser
Adsorber
Flue
gas out
Flue
gas in
Water make-up tank
with continuous
level indicator
Overflow
Backup water
make-up
Inlet gas conditioning system
Solvent tank and outlet
gas conditioning

4. Current Status
•
Build has been completed.
•
Provisionally approved by Zurich Engineering, pending imminent completion of paperwork.
•
Cause-and-effect matrices for the operation of the unit have been drafted and approved, together with a list of error codes (around 400 of them).
•
User interface designed (see slide 6).
•
Programming complete – state machine architecture automates, controls and checks the process (see slide 7) and handles c.150 variables.
•
After rectifying some minor faults, satisfactory performance has been demonstrated with water.
•
Framework for future development of the unit has been established (see slide 9).
•
Process items have been labelled.
•
Drafting of manual is nearly complete.

5. User Interface

6. ACTTROM V0.1: Pictures
Solvent tank, outlet gas conditioning/analysis
and water makeup tanks
Inlet gas conditioning
Control systems and
fluid chilling units

7. Program Flow Diagram

8. Example Code
Fault
Simulation
Analog
Output
Condition
Met?
Next
Task
Nested case structures

9. ACTTROM: Development Process
HS1: Preliminary design report
& identification of issues
HS2: HAZID study
HS5: Site acceptance testing
HS4: check constructed apparatus
conforms with law & agreed design
DSEAR assessment
HS3: HAZOP study
HS6: Review
Declaration of conformity &
third party inspection
Construction/modification and
Commissioning of apparatus
ABB six-stage Hazard Study process
Parallel Processes
Process must be repeated for every major modification or integration of new apparatus
Complete
Underway
Not yet started
ACTTROM
V0.1 status

10. Next steps
•
Get on site!
•
Peterhead running hours uncertain, awaiting developments (and other UK power plants uncertain running plans)
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Have approached steel works but competing priorities
•
University natural gas CHP an alternative
•
Design also of interest overseas