The Impact of Climate Change Induced Temperature Rise on Compression Power and CO2 Emissions: A Theoretical Approach

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of rising ambient temperatures, driven by climate change, on compression power requirements and the resulting CO2 emissions in compression systems. Using a theoretical model based on air as the compressed medium and assuming ideal gas behavior, the analysis quantifies the non-linear relationship between temperature increases and compression power demand. At a base/ambient temperature of 30°C, a 1.0°C rise leads to a 0.0885 MW increase in compression power, which scales with higher base temperatures. The increased energy demand from higher temperatures directly correlates with higher CO2 emissions, with a 1.0°C rise resulting in a projected increase of 205.6 metric tons of CO2 emissions, when powered by natural gas, annually per compressor. At higher base temperatures, the compression power and CO2 emissions increases become even more pronounced, demonstrating the escalating environmental cost of rising temperatures due to climate change. The study findings underscore the urgent need for operational optimization and efficiency improvements, particularly in industries reliant on air compression systems in regions where temperatures are projected to rise sharply in the coming decades.