Learnings from up-scaling CO₂ capture: Challenges and experiences with pilot work

Large-scale reduction of greenhouse gasses is necessary to abate the climate crisis, for which technological development will pave the way. Advancing research from academia to industry is crucial for technological progress. Pilot scale studies are the intermediate step from bench to industry. New challenges arise during technology upscaling, many of which have not been previously described in the literature. This article provides a guide of the do's and don'ts to researchers venturing into pilot work. The learnings and experiences gained by working with pilot-scale CO₂ capture plant are presented and discussed. This work outlines the process challenges encountered during the commissioning and operation of a CO₂ capture pilot using 30 wt% MEA and with a capacity to capture one tonne CO₂/day from flue gas. Conducting pilot work in industrial facilities and outside controlled lab environments comes with unexpected problems. The issues faced during our pilot work are presented along with troubleshooting strategies and possible solutions. This work can aid researchers in identifying and rectifying operational challenges and conducting successful pilot campaigns.