Project Summary

Development of a compact and durable Electron Beam Flue Gas Treatment (EBFGT) technology for the maritime industry to remove pollutants (particularly NOX) by converting and subsequently filtering harmful by-products before the exhaust gas is released. While solutions for on-land utilization for coal-fired power plants exist, the technology needs to be adapted to the needs for the maritime industry which include high durability and low maintenance, mechanical robustness, adherence to high safety standards, energy efficiency, price-competitiveness and compactness. The project focuses on the design, characterization and simulation of membrane prototypes for utilization as beam windows, with emphasis on identifying suitable materials, mountability in vacuum conditions, stacking configurations and micro-structuring options. CERNs contribution consists in the provision of electron beam facilities (electron sources, beam characterization and beam instrumentation), the study and configuration of electron transmission as well as membrane configuration and characterization. The goal is to integrate the Flue Gas Treatment technology into a carbon capture system to minimize the amount of pollutants emitted by a maritime vessel.

CERN Expertise

CERN contributes the following key technologies to the project and provides corresponding facilities and expertise:

1.  Electron beams: Electron sources, beam characterization and beam instrumentation
2. Beam machine interactions : FLUKA, GEANT, SRIM, etc.
3. Vacuum, Surfaces and Coatings: Thin film coatings, membrane design, membrane fabrication and characterization, thermal management, etc.