The DOE funding for phase III enables SwRI to design and test carbon dioxide compression using technologies developed under previous DOE phases of the improved compression technologies program.
The project consists of the design, construction and testing of a full-scale, multi-stage centrifugal compressor with internal cooling, a CO2 liquefaction plant and a liquid pumping station.
The compressor is being co-funded by Dresser-Rand and SwRI, while liquid pumping station was developed by SwRI under a previous project.
Because of growing concern over greenhouse gas emissions, the US government and utilities are developing technologies to separate CO2 both pre- and post-combustion.
Under previous funding from DOE and industry partners, SwRI researchers investigated novel compression concepts that will boost the pressure of CO2 to pipeline pressure levels with a minimal amount of energy required.
To accomplish that, phase II of the program, recently completed, evaluated the performance of these devices using two SwRI designed and developed experimental test rigs, including a new liquid CO2 pump test facility.
Once the project proves the integration of the technology, SwRI and its partners intend to pursue a field installation facility.
