Due to the extreme changes to climate caused by carbon dioxide, a lot of people are turning their attention towards new type of CO2 collecting/storing technology. This technology is called CCS, short for Carbon Capture & Storage.

CCS technology captures CO2 in high concentrations where fossil fuels are being used – Cement factories, iron works, thermoelectric power plants? and so on. Then it safely stores the CO2 underground.

There are three main types of CCS technology that people use –

The first is Capturing After Combustion Technology. Capturing After Combustion separates CO2 from exhaust gas that is produced when fossil fuels burn. This technology can be directly implemented to most of the present sources of CO2.

Hence, numerous thermoelectric power plants are utilizing the technology, and many look up to this as the fundamental branch of CCS technology.

For the technology to take place, the technique requires five main steps: Absorption, regeneration, compression, transport, and storing.

 In order to do this, the system needs an absorption tower, a regeneration tower, a compression machine, transportation systems, and a space to store the carbon dioxide.

The next type of CCS technology being used is Capturing Before Combustion Technology. This technology, in contrast to the previous one, separated carbon dioxide that exists in fossil fuels before they burn out.

And finally, Oxyfuel Combustion Capturing Technology is quite efficient because it does not have to pass through a complicated separation process.

While fossil fuels are being combusted, oxygen, instead of air is pumped into the system, thus only extracting a very high concentration of carbon dioxide.

Exhaustion gas discharged from thermoelectric power plants consist of water, nitrogen, and 10~15% carbon dioxide. The exhaustion gas enters the lower part of the absorption tower, and mingles with an absorbent being pumped from the higher part of the tower.

Thousands and millions of small holes, or spiracles can be seen on the absorbent.

 When CO2 is pumped into these small air holes, chemical reactions happen and the CO2 sticks. Then, the absorbent collects some of the CO2, and the water and nitrogen is emitted out into the air through a chimney.

 After some time, the absorbent reaches the saturation point, or the limit to which it can contain CO2, and moves up the regeneration tower through a pipe. Here, it passes through a high-temperature heat processing system.

The system separates the CO2 glued to the absorbent.

The carbon dioxide stuck to the absorbent escapes the air holes when heat energy over 130 Celsius is given to the material, and the separated absorbent is regenerated into its original state in which it can collect carbon dioxide.

After the regeneration process, the absorbent is sent back to the higher part of the absorption tower.

When this kind of absorption & regeneration process is constantly repeated, the system will be able to capture a high percentage of carbon dioxide, over 90% to be exact. The captured CO2 goes through the compression process that makes it easier to transport to material.

The compressed CO2 is transported underground through pipelines, railroads, and ships. The transported carbon dioxide is pumped into gas fields over 800m deep, and is half-permanently stored inside.

Today, CCS technology is known as the most practical method that can help block climate change.

Yet, too much energy is needed in the process of production. To solve this problem, scientists these days are focusing on creating absorbents with higher saturation points in order to make the whole CCS process more cost-effective.