The aim of this pilot project is to produce a concentrated stream of CO2, compress it and then store it underground at a depth of more than 1.5 kilometres (instead of releasing it into the atmosphere). A textbook example of sustainability, carbon capture reduces greenhouse emissions while turning waste products into useful resources.

    CanmetENERGY’s CO2 R&D Consortium, now in Phase 9, is developing the first-of-its-kind CO2 capture and compression unit. This unit will be capable of separating and compressing CO2 from combustion flue gas streams for pipeline transportation. Part of this work involves studying CO2 phase change and the impact of impurities in the gas stream on the process. Desired results include important practical applications relating to the CO2 pipeline, material selection, and commercial design and implementation of these systems.

    Working as an integral part of CanmetENERGY’s team is Berg Chilling Systems, who supplied the custom equipment solution necessary for the successful outcome of this pilot project. As the Canadian leader in clean energy research and technology development, CanmetENERGY is careful to align itself with only the most accomplished partners.

After the Capture

    Canada has an abundant supply of coal, natural gas and oil reserves. CanmetENERGY is exploring ways to lessen the environmental impact of fossil fuel combustion technologies, which currently comprise a substantial portion of the Canadian energy supply. With carbon capture and storage (CCS) emerging as an intriguing option, further exploration prompted this pilot project.

    CCS involves capturing CO2 emissions from large point sources and storing them underground in suitable geological formations. The removal of CO2 from flue gas streams for storage is achieved using CO2 capture processes. The most promising capture processes, such as pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion, produce a highly concentrated CO2 stream that is, after compression, ready for transport and storage. The CO2 is transported by pipeline or tanker to a storage site where it will be injected into a geological formation and stored safely for the long-term. Unless it can be stored, there’s no benefit to capturing CO2 which makes the total storage capacity and its location important constraints on how much CO2 can actually be managed.

    In addition, CO2 can be used to enhance the recovery of oil and coal bed-methane. It is an attractive option because it allows continued use of fossil fuel resources and provides the time required for the transition to lower-carbon intensive technologies.

Environmental Snapshot

    In 1997, 100.5 million tonnes of CO2 from Upstream Oil and Gas and 127 million tonnes of CO2 from Industrial Emissions were released into the environment. Additional emissions of approximately 110 million tonnes of CO2 were produced in 2000 from predominantly coal fired electricity generation. These numbers are predicted to continue rising for example in the upstream oil and gas and industrial sectors to 125.9 million tonnes and 137 million tonnes respectively, in 2010.

    The federal government’s Climate Change Action Plan 2000 supports incentives and technology measures. Modeling results indicate that 1.5 mega-tonnes per year of CO2 could be stored in oil reservoirs in Western Canada with the CCAP 2000 measures. However, further CO2 reduction, especially from coal-fired power plants, could be achieved with more cost effective technologies. Conservative estimates indicate that more than 10 mega-tonnes could be captured and stored annually.

    In addition, the use of CO2 capture and storage technologies can also open up new opportunities for the large scale production of hydrogen without CO2 emissions, directly from fossil fuels. The availability of a large and cost effective source of hydrogen initially from fossil fuels could greatly assist the development of infrastructure and end use technologies for a future hydrogen based energy economy - that over the long term could be sustained with hydrogen production from alternative renewable or nuclear based energy sources.

The Equipment

    Berg Chilling Systems, one of North America’s most technologically advanced manufacturers of industrial refrigeration systems, is respected for their highly efficient and environmentally positive solutions. One such solution was required for CanmetENERGY’s pilot project. Berg Chilling supplied an air cooled portable chiller, which was mounted in a test trailer at a pilot plant where CanmetENERGY was able to use it to separate CO2 out of a stream of gases at very low leaving temperatures (-55F). This particular chiller has a capacity range of 0.75KW to 2KW when cooling the stream of gases down to a leaving temp of -55.

    Chosen from Berg’s compact line of portable chillers, this air cooled unit is completely self-contained – only requiring power supply and process connections. While initially built into a trailer at the pilot plant in Ottawa, this chiller is destined to be stationed at many different locations as the project moves forward.

The Bottom Line – Answers at Work

    “The world needs more energy and less CO2. While finding ways to use energy more efficiently, we must also find ways to manage CO2 effectively, which is why we’re actively exploring carbon capture and storage technology. Moving into unchartered territory is best done with responsive suppliers like Berg Chilling who have a storied history of making the seemingly impossible, completely possible,” points out Carlos Salvador, CanmetENERGY’s Project Engineer. “Because coal remains a cheap, abundant source of energy for the world, retrofitting or building new plants with carbon capture and storage technology could prove essential to slowing climate change.”