OXYFUEL TECHNOLOGY

THE POWER TO CREATE A CLEANER FUTURE

Oxyfuel is the term given to a process that involves firing a conventional coal-fired power station boiler with oxygen and recycled exhaust gases instead of regular air.

This produces a concentrated stream of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that can be “captured” and safely stored deep underground indefinitely.

The process of storage is known as geological storage (geosequestration). It is the same process nature has used since the beginning of time to store vast amounts of naturally formed gases like CO₂ in geological formations.

At Callide A Power Station, the oxyfuel technology necessary to capture CO₂ has been retro-fitted to the existing coal-fired power station. This technology will prove that a coal-fired power station can produce electricity with very low emissions.

In future, all new coal-fired power stations could be designed with this technology, so we can support economic development without increasing pressure on our environment.

Callide is the first power station in the world to be retrofitted with oxyfuel technology.

The CO₂ captured by the oxyfuel process is no longer a gas but a liquid, frozen to minus 30°C.

Success at Callide will demonstrate to the world that existing coal-fired power stations do not have to be dismantled and rebuilt to reduce global warming. New technology can be applied to existing power stations to reduce global warming.

Dr Chris Spero, Project Director, Callide Oxyfuel Project.

Global Emission Outputs

Combusting coal in pure oxygen would cause the boiler to get so hot it would melt – that is why we need to add recycled exhaust gases. This keeps the furnace temperature within an allowable range.

The basic elements in the Callide project have all been tried and tested elsewhere. Oxyfiring has been used in different industries and the storage of CO₂ underground was pioneered by the oil and gas industry in the late 1970’s.