Multiphysics and multiscale modelling for safe and feasible CO2 capture and storage

Power stations that burn fossil fuels will soon need to capture their own carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere, but the capture equipment must keep working even when the plant ramps up or down to match electricity demand. Current carbon capture systems struggle with this fluctuating flow. When a power plant changes output, the rate at which CO₂ enters the capture unit changes too, and the solid materials that trap the gas—called adsorbents—behave differently under these shifting conditions. Engineers lack reliable models to predict whether the capture process will remain efficient and safe when the load varies throughout a day. This project builds computer simulations that combine the physics of gas flow, heat transfer, and chemical reactions inside the capture equipment, alongside models of how the CO₂ behaves once injected underground for permanent storage. The researchers will also develop new adsorbent materials designed to perform well under variable loads. If successful, the work will give engineers a practical tool to design capture systems that can handle real-world power plant operation—not just steady-state ideal conditions. This removes a key technical barrier to deploying carbon capture at scale, making it feasible for existing power stations and industrial plants to cut their emissions without shutting down.