Oxyfuel Combustion

ALSTOM, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and We Energies are combining forces to build a pilot plant to demonstrate a unique carbon dioxide (CO2) capture process. The first change from conventional thinking is to use pure oxygen in the combustion process rather than air. By eliminating the nitrogen, NOx emissions are immediately reduced and the exhaust gas is almost pure CO2. The carbon capture process then uses chilled ammonia to collect about 90% of the CO₂. This process dramatically reduces the energy required, compared with the older amine process, to capture carbon dioxide and isolate it in a highly concentrated, high-pressure form.