Carbon capture could be even climate friendlier – thanks to a study from the University of Surrey.
Using artificial intelligence (AI), scientists adjusted a system based on a real coal-fired power station. The model could capture 16.7% more carbon dioxide (CO2) while using 36.3% less energy from the National Grid.
Professor Jin Xuan, Chair of Sustainable Processes at the University of Surrey’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, said:
“Usually, carbon capture systems run constantly, at the same rate – regardless of the externally changing environment. But we showed that teaching the system to keep making small adaptations can produce big energy savings – and capture more carbon at the same time.”
When power plants burn fuel, they produce CO2 – a greenhouse gas. But it can be captured by bubbling the flue gas through water containing limestone. CO2 reacts with the calcium carbonate in the limestone. This produces harmless bicarbonate, in a process known as “enhanced weathering”.
It takes energy to pump the water and the CO2. The CO2 capture plant had its own wind turbine – but in calmer weather, it took energy from the Grid.
Using AI, researchers taught a model system to predict what would happen – so it could pump less water when there was less CO2 to capture, or when less renewable energy was available.
The team hope their findings can be used more widely throughout the industry, contributing towards UN Sustainability Goals 7, 9, 12 and 13.
Dr Lei Xing, Lecturer in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Surrey, said:
“Although we tested our model on enhanced weathering, the principles apply more widely. Our model could help anybody trying to capture and store more CO2 with less energy – whatever the process they’re using.”
The research is published in the journal Reaction & Chemistry Engineering .
Reaction Chemistry & Engineering
Computational simulation/modeling
Not applicable
Responsive CO2 capture: predictive multi-objective optimisation for managing intermittent flue gas and renewable energy supply
22-Dec-2023
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: this work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under grant number EP/W018969/1.