Putting CO2 to use: CCUS

At Atlas Copco Gas and Process, we are committed to supporting the decarbonization of industries, and committed to providing turbomachinery solutions as our customers venture on their road to net zero emissions by 2050. One emerging path is carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS): By capturing and compressing CO2, we can help reduce emissions from traditional hydrocarbon processes, then store or re-use it in other ways.

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Benefits

Carbon Capture

CO2 can be captured by either applying oxyfuel or pre-combustion and post-combustion processes using amine or membrane-based processes. The common ground for any CCS technology – whether they are solvent (amine based) or membranes (PSA) based – is that compressors are essential to boost the low-pressure wet CO2 gas to either transport or nearby industries. Atlas Copco turbocompressors support oxy-fuel, pre-combustion, and post-combustion carbon-capture technologies.

Carbon Utilization

Once CO2 is captured it can be re-used as a feedstock for various processes (i.e., in the chemical/petrochemical industry). Also, by compressing it to supercritical levels (sCO2) it can be used as a working fluid.

Carbon Storage

Rather than expelling harmful CO2 into the environment, it can be stored for future energy use, or stored deep underground in certain geological formations. This ensures the safe sequestration of CO2 while keeping it out of our environment.

Experience in CO2 compression

Working with our customers and industry, we help drive progress in this new field – especially when it comes to CO2 utilization. For example, carbondioxide can be used to produce many consumer goods or methanol, for example. In fact, our integrally-geared turbocompressors are needed in most processes where wet CO2 is boosted for further usage. Atlas Copco Gas and Process has over 15 years of experience compressing CO2. In meeting the challenges of CCUS, we also apply our extensive experience in serving the hydrocarbon processing, power generation and industrial gases industries.

Supercritical CO2: using CO2 as a working fluid

CO2 can also be turned into a working fluid for many hydrocarbon-dominant processes. By compressing carbon dioxide beyond its critical point, the gas and the liquid phases become identical. We have experience with compression from the gas side, as well as compression originating from the liquid side and going to supercritical conditions.

Did you know?

CO2 capture capacity at large-scale facilities tripled between 2010 to 2020, going from 13 million tons captured to 40 million tons captured. (Source: IEA.org )