Putting CO2 to use: Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

At Atlas Copco Gas and Process, we are committed to supporting the decarbonization of industries. We are also 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 carbon dioxide, we can help reduce the CO2 emissions from traditional hydrocarbon processes (including natural gas, ethanol, and hydrogen production) – then store or re-use them in other products

Supercritical CO2: using CO2 as a working fluid

Supercritical CO2: using CO2 as a working fluid

Once captured, 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. Atlas Copco Gas and Process has delivered and put into operation multistage integrally-geared centrifugal compressors (up to eight stages, as well as Companders for sCO2 applications based on the Brayton Cycle.

Did you know?

Did you know?

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

Experience in CO2 compression

Compander engineered for sCO2 processing

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.

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. Carbon Capture technologies supported by Atlas Copco turbocompressors: - Oxy-fuel - Pre-combustion - Post-combustion

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.