Supercritical CO2 Applications: From Carbon Sequestration to Power Generation
Above 31.1°C and 73.8 bar, CO2 enters a supercritical state — combining the solvating power of a liquid with the diffusivity of a gas. This unique property unlocks applications across energy, oil & gas, food, pharma, and more.
Request a Quote Contact Our Team
What is Supercritical CO2?
- CO2 becomes supercritical above its critical point: 31.1°C temperature and 73.8 bar pressure
- In this state, it exhibits both liquid-like density and gas-like diffusivity
- Non-toxic, non-flammable, and chemically inert
- Easily tuneable — small changes in temperature or pressure cause significant shifts in density
- Widely used as a green solvent replacing harmful organic solvents
Key Supercritical CO2 Applications
Enhanced Oil Recovery
Supercritical CO2 injected into depleted oil reservoirs increases recovery rates. Used since the 1980s — oil recovery increased by 14.7% reaching 77.6%. CO2 sequestration efficiency of 56.8% — oil recovery and carbon storage in one process.
Carbon Capture & Sequestration
CO2 captured from power plants and industrial processes is sequestered in geological formations underground. Creates economic value while mitigating emissions. Symbiotic relationship between power plants disposing CO2 and oil companies needing CO2 for EOR.
Power Generation — sCO2 Brayton Cycle
Supercritical CO2 replaces steam/air as thermal medium, increasing efficiency by up to 10%. sCO2 turbines are approximately 10% the size of comparable steam turbines, achieving 50% heat-to-electricity efficiency. Applications include solar, gas turbines, nuclear, coal, biomass, geothermal, and waste heat recovery.
Supercritical Extraction
Food industry: decaffeination of coffee and tea, flavour and fragrance extraction. Pharmaceuticals: active ingredient extraction at 99% purity vs 85% with ethanol. Non-toxic, no solvent residues. Closed-loop systems recycle 95% of CO2.
Geothermal & Waste Heat Recovery
sCO2 used as working fluid in geothermal power plants at lower temperatures. Waste heat from gas turbines and industrial processes recovered via recuperators. Small density changes make sCO2 highly efficient for these applications.
Applications Overview
| Application | Industry | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Oil Recovery | Oil & Gas | Increases oil recovery by up to 14.7% while storing CO2 underground |
| Carbon Sequestration | Power & Industrial | Permanent geological storage of captured CO2 emissions |
| sCO2 Power Cycles | Power Generation | 10% higher efficiency, turbines 90% smaller than steam equivalents |
| Supercritical Extraction | Food & Pharma | Solvent-free extraction at 99% purity, green chemistry |
| Geothermal Energy | Renewable Energy | Efficient power generation from low-temperature geothermal sources |
| Waste Heat Recovery | Manufacturing | Captures and converts industrial waste heat to electricity |
Why Supercritical CO2?
- Non-toxic and non-flammable working fluid
- Chemically inert — no corrosion or contamination
- Easily available at low cost
- Tuneable properties with pressure and temperature
- Replaces harmful organic solvents (green chemistry)
- Closed-loop systems recycle 95% of CO2
- Compact equipment — 90% smaller than steam equivalents
- Proven technology — used commercially since the 1980s