CO2 ocean sequestration by moving ships

Ocean sequestration of the CO₂ captured from fossil-fuel burning is a possible option to mitigate the increase in CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. It can isolate huge amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere for a long time at relatively low cost, if it is acceptable from the viewpoint of the environmental impact on the ocean. The concept of CO₂ dispersion in the ocean depths by ships is a promising method for efficient dilution. That is, liquefied CO₂ is delivered to the site and injected into the ocean at depths of 1000–2500 m with a suspended pipe towed by a slowly moving ship. In addition to the horizontal movement of the release point, the vertical journey of CO₂ droplets until they disappear by dissolution is effective for the dilution of CO₂ in seawater. In this paper, the possibility of the generation of relatively large-sized droplets from a moving nozzle is investigated experimentally. In addition, the terminal velocity of CO₂ droplets in deep-sea circumstances is measured in a large high-pressure tank to investigate the influence of the hydrate film formed on the surface of the droplet. Finally, it is shown by simulation that an initial dilution ratio of one to some ten thousandths is possible on a realistic engineering scale in the moving ship type of CO₂ ocean sequestration. Received: August 7, 2001 / Accepted: September 13, 2001