Carbon Capture and Storage at Local Level

Introduction

 

CO₂ for commercial use is mostly created chemically. In lots of applications, the CO₂ required could be obtained locally by low cost carbon capture from CO₂ emitters

Description

 

Shortly, it will become possible to economically capture CO₂ from low volume CO₂ emitters and from the atmosphere.

The purpose of this plan is to develop Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUSlocal) units which can capture CO₂ from local emitters and to distribute this CO₂ to local users. With the CCUSlocal units, it may also be possible to recover the CO₂ from some of these users and recycle it. The CO₂ captured may also be sequestered.

Benefits of CCUSlocal

• Reduce the amount of CO₂ manufactured to meet commercial use
• Reduce the carbon footprint of the CO₂ distribution network
• Reduce the number of strong heavy metal CO₂ storage tanks required for distribution
• Many small emissions of CO₂ being captured for use and sequestration
• Possible to extract CO₂ from the atmosphere.
• Applicable wherever CO₂ is produced or used globally

Plan

 

Initially procure the rights to set up a factory to manufacture Small Scale Carbon Capture units to produce bottled CO₂ then set up franchises for local collection and delivery services across the UK then elsewhere in the world.

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There are also specific applications with their own requirements for a complete system. Units for these applications would be developed and sold through franchises specific to that market.

There are also a wider range of applications involving cooperation with other manufacturers. These are being investigated.

Some of the local uses of CO₂

Paint Ball Guns		Air Pistols
Beer and soft drink carbonation and dispensing in bars and restaurants		Welding
Food preservation		Fire Extinguishers
Aquariums		Horticulture
Hydroponics		Soda Syphons
Carbonated Water Taps		Dry Ice Production
Soil Improvement		Concrete Production

Some Small Scale CO₂ Emitters

Gas/Biofuel heaters/boilers in large buildings

Brewers and distillers

Wine making

Bars/Restaurants/Clubs

Features of the CCUSlocal unit

 

To succeed in this market place, the characteristics of the CO₂ capture unit must include:-

• Be small to medium sized but can be grouped to scale up to larger units
• Require no external equipment other that a pump to remove the pure CO₂
• Require little routine maintenance
• Produce CO₂ of high purity > 99%
• Be able to produce CO₂ of food use purity
• Have versions that work with different temperatures of feedstock
• Produce CO₂ at a competitive price

It would also be useful to have versions which:-

• Will extract CO₂ from CH₄ streams
• Will extract CH₄ from air streams

Such a technology is under development. It will be necessary to obtain licences to use this technology.

Future Developments

Tie up with a company producing activated carbon from coconut shells, coffee grounds etc. This produces CO₂ and Activated Carbon that can be used to store methane.

The CO₂ separation system may be modified to separate methane (CH₄) from an air stream creating a valuable resource from animal sheds.

The separation system also be modified to separate CO₂ from a mainly CH₄ stream ( anaerobic digesters ) thus increasing its value.

Integrating CO₂ use and CO₂ recovery in bars to reduce drink delivery and ventilation costs

Initial Needs

 

Someone to take over, organise and finance this project. Owing to my advanced age, I am not in a position to take the lead in this operation.

Seed funding for “Proof of Concept”. Initially this involves liaison with the developer on the practicalities of the technology.

Promise of support to convince the developer that we are serious and can afford a license.

Once a license is obtained, must quickly build up production capacity, marketing, publicity and franchising effort.

Note that the separation technology can be scaled up for high volume applications.

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