Environmental sustainability of CO₂ capture in fossil fuel based power plants

Abstract

This paper analyzes various possible options for the chemical capture of CO 2 and their energy requirements, focusing attention on the introduction of the devices in well-defined power plant configurations. Capture technologies are proposed and the most suitable technology appears to be chemical absorption. Even if, in principle, this option appears interesting, under an energetic point of view it has a great impact on the thermodynamic performance of the plant, reducing drastically its efficiency.