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Pitch

Carbon dioxide is unique in that it becomes a liquid at high pressures close to ambient temperature. Can this be used to sequester carbon?


Description

Summary

At a constant temperature close to 280K compression to 100 times atmospheric pressure turns carbon dioxide into a liquid.  This is not true for any of the more major components of the atmosphere, which become supercritical fluids that do not share in all of the properties of a liquid.  Hence, such a compression would result in the condensation of carbon dioxide, which can then be easily drained off.

The proposal is to create a series of simple apparatuses that cycle air to/from an ocean depth of approximately 1000 ft, which is sufficient to accomplishes the desired pressure increase.  Such an apparatus would allow for the liquid carbon dioxide to be drained into a tank at the ocean bottom for indefinite storage.


Category of the action

Geoengineering


What actions do you propose?


Who will take these actions?


Where will these actions be taken?


What are other key benefits?

With hopes for carbon emission reductions continuing to fall victim to political obfuscation and delays, accelerated efforts to aggressively remove CO2 from the atmosphere may be the only remaining technique for effectively combating the onset of climate change.  This effort represents a tangible action with visible results of pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere.


What are the proposal’s costs?

I am by no means an expert in estimating such things.  The economic cost will depend greatly on the size of the pistons utilized and the number of such structures built.  


Time line


Related proposals


References