NEW YORK, Apr. 18, 2007 – As policymakers and environmental advocates voice their concerns regarding air pollution and global warming, engineers in the power industry are working on techniques to capture the carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired electric generating plants for permanent storage underground.

For carbon sequestration to be effective, according to engineers, the CO2 produced from the combustion process must be compressed using various methodologies that will be outlined at ASME Turbo Expo 2007 in Montreal, Canada.

“Effectively capturing and delivering CO2 for geological sequestration requires the compression of large volumes of gas with significant power consumption,” says Richard A. Dennis, turbine technology manager in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy, who has assembled a panel of engineers and researchers to speak on the topic of CO2 compression on May 15, the second day of Turbo Expo at the Palais des Congres.

The CO2 compression technologies that will be discussed in the panel relate to integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) electric power plants.  IGCC systems are less polluting and more thermally efficient than pulverized coal plants, and they are the focus of much new research in a global power industry striving to comply with government mandates to reduce environmentally harmful emissions.

The IGCC plant is effective at capturing carbon dioxide from the coal combustion process, essentially converting the CO2 into synthesis gas containing mostly carbon monoxide and hydrogen.  However, to fully optimize the IGCC process and effectively move the carbon to underground storage, the combined cycle system must include technology for gas compression.

“Compression at 2200 PSI puts the carbon into a supercritical state, at which point the gas can be pumped out of the plant and stored underground,” says Dennis of the DOE.

Dennis’ panel combines speakers from industry and the research sector.  The panelists include technical representatives of Ramgen Power Systems, MAN Turbo, and Dresser Rand Corp. – three of the leading developers of high-performance gas compressors.   

ASME Turbo Expo 2007, which continues to May 17, also will include technical sessions on structural dynamics, materials, diagnostics and instrumentation, and other topics – along with an exhibit of the latest products and services in the industry.  The ASME International Gas Turbine Institute is sponsor of the event.

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences.  ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the engineering and technology community.

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