Development of Simplified CO2 Liquefaction & Loading Process at Elevated Pressure

Abstract The increasing urgency to mitigate climate change has driven significant interest in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies. These technologies are essential for reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thereby limiting global temperature rise. Among these technologies, the liquefaction, marine transportation, and storage of liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) play a crucial role. CO2 liquefaction and marine transportation typically involve medium pressure (MP) or low pressure (LP) modes which require extensive refrigeration cycles. The MP mode of liquefaction and marine transportation is a traditional method, whereas the LP mode is relatively recent. However, these cycles lead to high energy consumption and capital expenditures (CAPEX), which can make the processes less efficient and more costly. This paper explores an innovative approach to simplify the CO2 liquefaction process at elevated pressures (EP) using LCO2-EP cargo tank technology optimized for CO2. The proposed approach involves a liquefaction cycle using isenthalpic expansion leveraging the Joule-Thomson (J-T) effect instead of external refrigeration cycles. The primary goals are to reduce energy consumption, to lower CAPEX, and to minimize CO2 emissions within the CCS value chain.