Available technology captures about 85% to 95% of the CO2 processed in a capture plant, and the CO2 is then dried and typically compressed above 8 MPa for pipeline transport, according to the IPCC special report on carbon capture and storage. Ultra Controlo distributes and services Elmo Rietschle, whose maker lists carbon capture among the industries for its side channel blowers.
The IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (2005) and the EU directive on geological storage of CO2 describe these steps.
CO2 is separated from flue gas or syngas, for example by absorption in solvents; current systems for power plants could capture 85% to 95% of the CO2 produced.
Oxy-fuel combustion needs oxygen separated from air upstream, with a purity of 95% to 99% assumed in most current designs, giving a flue gas of mainly CO2 and water.
CO2 from most capture processes contains moisture, which has to be removed to avoid corrosion and hydrate formation during transport.
Gaseous CO2 is typically compressed above 8 MPa to avoid two-phase flow and increase its density for pipeline transport.
Pipelines are the most common method; CO2 can also travel as a liquid in insulated tanks on ships and road or rail tankers.
EU law requires a CO2 stream for geological storage to consist overwhelmingly of carbon dioxide, with incidental substances below harmful levels.
Sources: IPCC, Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (2005), Summary for Policymakers, Technical Summary and Chapters 3 and 4; Directive 2009/31/EC, Article 12 (consolidated version of 24 December 2018); Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 (Net-Zero Industry Act), Article 20.
The IPCC report explains why captured CO2 is dried and compressed before it travels.
Gaseous CO2 is typically compressed to a pressure above 8 MPa to avoid two-phase flow regimes and increase its density, which makes it easier and less costly to transport.
Source: IPCC SRCCS (2005), Technical Summary, p. 29.
CO2 must be dried to prevent water condensation and corrosion in pipelines and to allow conventional carbon-steel materials; wet CO2 in low-alloy carbon steel is unlikely to be practicable.
Source: IPCC SRCCS (2005), Chapter 3, p. 122, and Chapter 4, p. 182.
A power plant with CCS would need roughly 10% to 40% more energy than an equivalent plant without it, most of it for capture and compression.
Source: IPCC SRCCS (2005), Summary for Policymakers, p. 4.
The IPCC report also quotes a CO2 pipeline specification asking for at least 95 mole percent carbon dioxide and no free water (Chapter 4, p. 182).
Ultra Controlo distributes and services Elmo Rietschle, whose maker lists carbon capture among the industries for its side channel blowers. The Ultra Controlo catalogue does not list CO2 compression.
The maker's G-BH1, G-BH2, G-BH7 and G-BH100 pages list carbon capture, the fuel cell industry and environmental engineering among their industries.
Elmo RietschleThe maker says its G-BH1 side channel vacuum pump delivers 20,000 operating hours between services.
Elmo RietschleSources: Ultra Controlo Industrial 2026 catalogue, p. 11; Elmo Rietschle, G-BH1 and G-BH series pages (elmorietschle.com).
Ultra Controlo is a Portuguese manufacturer of compressed air, vacuum and technical gas systems, with 40 years of experience. We design, assemble and test our own compressors, dryers and carbon towers in Portugal, and supply and service five partner brands.
ULTRASCREW compressors, ULTRASEC and ULTRADRY dryers and ULTRAK activated carbon towers.
Gardner Denver, Elmo Rietschle, Thomas, Speck Pumpen (Circutec) and Speck Triplex.
Preventive and corrective maintenance, original spare parts and emergency support, by our own team.
Source: Ultra Controlo Industrial 2026 catalogue, pp. 3, 10, 16, 17 and 22.
The IPCC Special Report on CCS (2005) says available technology captures about 85% to 95% of the CO2 processed in a capture plant, and that a power plant with CCS could cut its CO2 emissions to the atmosphere by approximately 80% to 90%.
The IPCC report says gaseous CO2 is typically compressed to a pressure above 8 MPa to avoid two-phase flow regimes and increase the density of the CO2, which makes pipeline transport easier and less costly.
The IPCC report says moisture has to be removed to avoid corrosion and hydrate formation during transport, and that dry CO2 allows conventional carbon-steel pipelines; transporting wet CO2 in low-alloy carbon steel is unlikely to be practicable.
The IPCC Special Report on CCS (2005) says oxy-fuel combustion requires the upstream separation of oxygen from air, with a purity of 95% to 99% oxygen assumed in most current designs.
Directive 2009/31/EC, Article 12, says a CO2 stream must consist overwhelmingly of carbon dioxide, with no waste added for disposal, and incidental substances below levels that would harm the storage site, transport infrastructure, environment or health.
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