Performance Analysis of an Adsorption-Based CO2 Reservoir for Compressed CO2 Energy Storage: Experiments and Dynamic Modeling
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Temporary CO2 storage is gaining interest for applications requiring compact storage at moderate pressures, where the low volumetric density of gaseous CO2 limits storage capacity without high-pressure compression. Adsorption in porous materials offers a potential means of increasing storage density, although tank-scale studies remain scarce. This work experimentally and numerically investigated adsorption-based CO2 storage using a 17 L tank containing 6 kg of coconut shell activated carbon over a 1–10 bar charge–dormancy–discharge sequence. Experimental measurements of the CO2 mass flow rate, pressure, and temperature were used to calibrate a lumped-parameter dynamic model that can be integrated into system-level simulations. The activated carbon increased the volumetric storage capacity compared with an empty tank, with deliverable storage enhancement factors between 4 and 8 depending on the discharge conditions. Heat exchange with the atmosphere during charging and discharging had only a minor influence, while cooling during dormancy reduced the recoverable working capacity. Compared with isothermal operation, the working capacity decreased by approximately 35% under adiabatic conditions, with an additional 37% reduction when heat exchange with the surroundings was included, highlighting the importance of limiting heat losses during storage. These findings highlight the potential of adsorption as a strategy for temporary CO2 storage.
Source: ChemEngineering
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,930
OpenAlex ID: W7222145301