Conference Session A10
Paper # 6008
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on
publicly available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any
purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at
the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
PURE OXYGEN COMBUSTION SYSTEM
Lucas Carroll, LWC8@pitt.edu, Mahboobin 10:00, Rico Romeo, RAR118@pitt.edu, Sanchez 10:00
Revised Proposal — Carbon dioxide emissions are a
significant issue and create a host of environmental concerns.
One method of carbon sequestration to combat these harmful
emissions is to use pure oxygen combustion systems. These
systems involve the process of burning coal in pure oxygen
instead of normal air. By doing this, the carbon dioxide gas
can be more easily collected, since it can then be separated
from water vapor through simple condensation instead of
from nitrogen. The carbon dioxide would be collected in an
absorption tower. In this tower are chemicals that pull the
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A second tower disjoins
the carbon dioxide from the absorption chemicals and those
chemicals are recycled to be used again. Once separated, the
carbon dioxide gases can be collected and stored
underground or in sedimentary rock formations [1]. This
process would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions
significantly and lessen the effects of global warming.
Every living being on Earth is directly affected by the
emission of carbon dioxide gas. The average global
temperature is currently rising (global warming) due to large
amounts of this gas being released into the atmosphere. This
is due to the heat-trapping quality of carbon dioxide. “If
carbon dioxide levels continue upward, further warming
could have dire consequences, resulting from rising sea levels,
agriculture disruptions, and stronger storms (e.g. hurricanes)
striking more often” [1]. Rising sea levels could cause the
displacement and loss and property of people living near or
around large bodies of water. Rising temperatures could lead
to an increase in global power struggles resulting from
frustrations involving instability for farmers and a threatened
food supply [2]. Carbon dioxide emission should be
recognized as a serious issue that needs to be solved in the
near future.
To gain further knowledge on the topic of pure oxygen
combustion systems, we plan to consult technical documents,
professional publications, and credible articles. Through the
use of these sources, we intend to learn more about the
technology behind these systems and how they work, the
economic and environmental effects that these systems could
produce, and any expected challenges that could throughout
the process with possible solutions to these challenges. Each
of these aspects will be thoroughly discussed in our paper,
which will be formatted using the sections aforementioned.
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
2016/01/29
REFERENCES
[1] (2016). “Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods.”
National Academy of Engineering. (Online article).
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/9077.aspx
[2] J. Worland. (2015, Nov. 15,). “Why Climate Change and
Terrorism are Connected.” Time Magazine. (Online article).
http://time.com/4113801/climate-change-terrorism/
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
K. Bullis. (7 February 2013). “A Cleaner Way to Use Coal.”
MIT
Technology
Review.
(online
article).
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/510736/a-cleanerway-to-use-coal/
This article, published from MIT Technology Review,
gives insight into the coal burning process and the production
of carbon dioxide. The article focuses on the molecular
interactions between iron in the coal and the oxygen that the
coal is burned in. Information from this source will be used
to explain why burning coal in oxygen is a better method than
burning it in normal air.
(2011, February 17). “Carbon Capture and Sequestration.”
CCS Education Initiative. (Online video) http://ccseducation.org/
This video, from the Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Education Initiative’s website, visually details the process of
capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it
in underground reservoirs. The video clarifies that storing the
gas underground is a safe procedure that would benefit the
environment and is economical. Information from this video
will be used to reassure there are no safety risks associated
with carbon sequestration.
H. de Conick, B. Metz, O. Davidson, M Loos, L Meyer.
(2005). “Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage.” Cambridge
University
Press.
(IPCC
Special
Report).
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12051/m2/1/h
igh_res_d/srccs_wholereport.pdf
This publication was presented for the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. It specifically focused on Carbon
Dioxide capture and storage. The publication provides
detailed information and diagrams on different methods of the
Lucas Carroll
Rico Romeo
storage and transportation of carbon dioxide after it is
captured from the atmosphere. The information from this
source will be used to detail the process behind oxy-fuel
technology.
journal will be used to describe the evolution of oxy-fuel
technology so its current state can be better understood.
J. Worland. (15 November 2015). “Why Climate Change and
Terrorism are Connected.” Time Magazine. (online article)
http://time.com/4113801/climate-change-terrorism/
This article, published by Time magazine, focuses on
establishing a link between carbon dioxide emissions and
terrorism. The article describes how terrorism is a direct
result of global warming, resulting from global power
struggles due to a threatened food supply and farming
economy. This article will be used to illustrate the
consequences of carbon dioxide emission and why a solution
must be found.
(2016). “Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods.” National
Academy
of
Engineering.
(Online
article).
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/9077.aspx
This article, from the National Academy of
Engineering’s website, lists “developing carbon sequestration
methods” as one of the grand challenges for engineering this
century. The article describes why carbon dioxide emission is
an issue, the process of carbon sequestration, and how carbon
dioxide gas is stored. Information from this article will help
us clarify the significance of this challenge and aid in our
description of a solution through carbon sequestration.
B. Ekwurzel “Why Does CO2 Get Most of the Attention
When There are So Many Other Heat-trapping Gases
(greenhouse gases)?” Union of Concerned Scientists. (online
article)
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impact
s/science/CO2-and-global-warming-faq.html#.Vqre7SorLIV
This article, published by the Union of Concerned
Scientists, focuses on issues derived from global warming due
to CO2 emissions and outlines the history of these emissions
compared to other gases. The article also shows a scientific
prediction of future emissions compared to the past trends.
This aspect will help us justify why it is important to focus
resources on solving the issue of CO2 emissions.
R. Hendershot. (2010, July). “Use Oxygen to Improve
Combustion and Oxidation.” American Institute of Chemical
Engineers.
(Research
publication).
http://www.airproducts.com/~/media/Files/PDF/industries/c
pi-cep-hendershot-combustion-july.pdf
This research publication, copyrighted by the American
Institute of Chemical Engineers, explains how oxygenenhanced combustion is a feasible replacement for normal air.
The publication presents how this process can reduce costs
and emissions, be easily implemented, and raise process
reliability. Statistical data from this publication will be used
to reinforce any points presented in the paper and provide
relevant examples of this technology at work.
Y. Tan, L. Zheng. (2014, January 7). “Overview of Oxy-fuel
Combustion Technology for CO2 Capture.” Cornerstone.
(Scientific
journal
entry).
http://cornerstonemag.net/overview-of-oxy-fuel-combustiontechnology-for-co2-capture/
This article, published in the official journal of the world
coal industry, describes the history of oxy-fuel technology
and its use in reducing carbon dioxide emission. The article
shows how this technology initially posed problems and was
made into a more attractive option. The information from this
2