| Jan 15, 2024 |
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(Nanowerk News) Using artificial intelligence (AI), scientists adjusted a system based on a real coal-fired power station. The model could capture 16.7% more carbon dioxide (CO2) while using 36.3% less energy from the National Grid.
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The research is published in the journal Reaction & Chemistry Engineering (“Responsive CO2 capture: predictive multi-objective optimisation for managing intermittent flue gas and renewable energy supply”).
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Professor Jin Xuan, Chair of Sustainable Processes at the University of Surrey’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, said: “Usually, carbon capture systems run constantly, at the same rate – regardless of the externally changing environment. But we showed that teaching the system to keep making small adaptations can produce big energy savings – and capture more carbon at the same time.”
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When power plants burn fuel, they produce CO2 – a greenhouse gas. But it can be captured by bubbling the flue gas through water containing limestone. CO2 reacts with the calcium carbonate in the limestone. This produces harmless bicarbonate, in a process known as “enhanced weathering”.
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It takes energy to pump the water and the CO2. The CO2 capture plant had its own wind turbine – but in calmer weather, it took energy from the Grid.
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Using AI, researchers taught a model system to predict what would happen – so it could pump less water when there was less CO2 to capture, or when less renewable energy was available.
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The team hope their findings can be used more widely throughout the industry, contributing towards UN Sustainability Goals 7, 9, 12 and 13.
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Dr Lei Xing, Lecturer in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Surrey, said:
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“Although we tested our model on enhanced weathering, the principles apply more widely. Our model could help anybody trying to capture and store more CO2 with less energy – whatever the process they’re using.”
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