A new kind of gas-fired power station releases on average 1.73×104 kg of pure carbon dioxide (CO2) every day. It also uses the heat of exhaust gases to provide community heating so the carbon dioxide leaving the power station is at same temperature as the environment. The density of CO2 as it leaves the power station is 1.98 kg/m³.
a) What volume of pure CO2 will be emitted from the power station each day?
[2 marks]
The CO2 now enters the atmosphere and is ‘diluted’ by other air molecules and therefore occupies a larger volume. In the atmosphere, for every million (1000000) air molecules, there are 400 CO₂ molecules.
b) Work out the volume that the diluted CO2 will now take up in the atmosphere. Give your answer to 3sf.
[2 marks]
A new technology is added to the power station to capture this carbon dioxide and store it as a liquid.
c) The density of liquid carbon dioxide is 1100kg/m³.
Work out the volume that the amount carbon dioxide produced every day will occupy if stored as a liquid.
[2 marks]
A depleted oil field contains a reservoir of area 1150 m2 which is 150m deep. This reservoir could be used to store the liquid carbon dioxide.
d) Evaluate how many years’ worth of carbon dioxide emitted from the power station could be stored in this oil field. Give your answer to two significant figures.
[3 marks]
