Pressurised Oxy-Fuel Combustion to Capture CO2

US researchers have been exploring ways of reducing CO2 emissions through studying a Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) process known as pressurised oxy-fuel combustion.  This process involves converting industrial CO2 emissions into liquid form for subsequent underground storage, and it is being carried out by scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

According to lead scientist Ahmed Ghoniem, no other team is currently carrying out research into a “pressurised combustion system for carbon dioxide capture”.

One drawback associated with pressurised oxy-fuel combustion is the energy required to filter out pure CO2 from the stream of gases emitted when industrial fossil fuels are burned, “Nobody in their right mind will jump into this and do it unless we can reduce the energy penalty and the extra cost, and only if it is mandated to reduce CO2 emissions”, Ghoniem stated. 

Industrial CO2 Capture

However, he and his MIT team’s industrial CO2 capture technology could have the potential to offer a 15 per cent energy efficiency improvement over alternative CCS technologies.  This, according to MIT, could propel it into the mainstream, although trials would need to take place to prove that the system is cost-efficient, too.

Once liquidised, the CO2 is ready to be submerged below ground, deep enough to stop it entering the atmosphere. 

CCS Technologies

The development of viable CCS technologies is considered vital, if industrial fossil fuel burning is still to take place.  Although use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar is on the increase, energy from fossil fuels still makes up over 80 per cent of the energy used across the US as a whole, and 90 per cent of the world’s energy needs.  Fossil fuel-related CO2 emissions are forecast to increase by in excess of 50 per cent over the next two decades.

In 2008, the Union of Concerned Scientists described CCS as an “emerging technology.” 

“It has the potential to substantially reduce CO2 emissions from coal plants, but it also faces many challenges”,  it added.

See also:

Carbon Conversion Technology offers Alternative to CCS