Researchers develop initial step toward carbon sequestration
Monday, September 21, 2009 - 11:42
in Physics & Chemistry
MIT researchers have developed designs for a new kind of coal-burning power plant, called a pressurized oxy-fuel combustion system, whose carbon-dioxide emissions are concentrated and pressurized so that they can be injected into deep geological formations. This system is a way to reduce the energy penalty that all carbon-capture systems for power plants have compared to regular fossil-fuel plants, and could thus be an enabling technology to help make carbon capture and sequestration systems (CCS) practical and affordable. While all carbon capture systems incur about a one-third reduction in plant efficiency, this system reduces that penalty.