Carbon Capture & CO₂ Compression Equipment worked example

Capture Efficiency at 68% target capture efficiency: a worked example

This worked example runs the capture efficiency numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 68% target capture efficiency instead of the typical 95%. Calculate the percentage of inlet CO₂ that the capture system removes, using the same time basis for captured CO₂ flow and inlet CO₂ flow.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Captured CO₂ mass flow: 8 t CO₂ / day (held at the documented default)
  • Inlet CO₂ mass flow: 250 t CO₂ / day (held at the documented default)
  • Target capture efficiency: 68 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 95)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: CO₂ capture efficiency = captured CO₂ mass flow ÷ inlet CO₂ mass flow × 100.
  • CO₂ capture efficiency works out to 3.2 % at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Capture efficiency gap to target works out to 64.8 points at these inputs.
  • Captured CO₂ mass flow works out to 8 count at these inputs.
  • Inlet CO₂ mass flow works out to 250 count at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target capture efficiency sits at 95% and the headline result is 3.2 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 3.2 %.
  • Use it when commissioning a capture train, verifying performance against a 45Q or offtake guarantee, or diagnosing a drop in capture rate. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • CO₂ capture efficiency: 3.2 % (headline result)
  • Capture efficiency gap to target: 64.8 points
  • Captured CO₂ mass flow: 8 count
  • Inlet CO₂ mass flow: 250 count

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Capture Efficiency calculator, set target capture efficiency to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.