CO2 capture and storage from power plant flue gas using gas hydrate-based technologies

Abstract

The climate system is changing globally, and there is substantial evidence that subsea permafrost and gas hydrate reservoirs are melting in high-latitude regions of the Earth, resulting in large volumes of CO2 (from organic carbon deposits) and CH4 (from gas hydrate reserves) venting into the atmosphere. As one of the main contributors to global climate change, power plants produce a substantial proportion of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Here, we developed techniques to capture and storage CO2 (CCS) present in power plant flue gases based on gas hydrate technologies. First, we experimentally measured the thermodynamic properties of different flue gases, followed by modelling and tuning the equations of states. Second, we proposed injection of flue gas into methane gas hydrate reservoirs as an option for economically sustainable production of natural gas as well as CCS. The optimum injection conditions were found and reaction kinetics was investigated in realistic conditions and well characterised systems. Third, kinetics of flue gas hydrate formation for both the geological storage of CO2 and the secondary sealing of CH4/CO2 release in one simple process was investigated, followed be thoroughly investigation of hydrate formation kinetics using a highly accurate in house developed device. Finally, effect of the proposed methods on permeability and mechanical strength of the geological formations was investigated.