Engineering Challenges Part II - Assignment Example

Introduction In the recent past, technology and engineering have come to revolutionize every aspect of our lives. It is argued that the increasing population and the need for sustaining the rate of civilization with respect to improving life quality are the significant contributing factors to the engineering challenges we have in the recent. The human race has always been enthusiastic about its technological and engineering achievements in the past and now the impact of these advancements has brought up more challenges and opportunities to be realized.

Provision for sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is one of the important engineering challenges currently. Carbon dioxide has been said to be the primary contributing factor towards global warming in the recent past. This is as a result of the growing burning of the fossil fuels for industrialization purposes. The challenge for engineers, in this case, is the capturing of the carbon dioxide produced by the burning of the fossil fuels and disposing of the gas out of the atmosphere.

The chemical systems that already exist and can separate carbon dioxide in beverage carbonation for commercial purposes would require a greater economic input for this extraction in other industries. The separation of carbon dioxide from the oxygen and nitrogen as used in industries would mean that a restoration of the combustion process system in all industries which are economically feasible; would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide capture, therefore, is not the significant challenge to the environment but its sequestration (Hoffert et al., 882). Research has shown that by the use of advanced methods of generating power by use of coal-gasification methods, would help in filtering out carbon dioxide by adding steam to produce hydrogen that is more environmental friendly.

The discovery of the method on how to isolate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is a milestone for the environmental engineers in their quest for creating a better living environment. Industrialization and emission of the carbon dioxide are on the rise due to the industrial advancement and human curiosity. Carbon dioxide being on the rise has resulted in a boost in global average temperatures. If the carbon dioxide levels are not contained, their consequences will lead to disruption in the weather, rise in sea level and changes in agricultural production on the decline (Figueroa et al., 16).Engineers have conducted research on how to isolate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through its capture and storage away from the atmosphere (sequestration process).

They have recommended various ways of how to store the isolated gas. Some of the significant prospects on how to store the sequestrated gas are storage in gas oil fields that would allow the oil to mix with carbon dioxide for easier extraction. Injecting carbon dioxide through the fields would dislodge the trapped oil by reducing friction impending flow of oil out of the fields. However, this will not help in the permanent isolation of carbon dioxide. The engineers will require a more tangible method of isolating the carbon dioxide by use of sedimentary rocks.

Carbon dioxide will be inserted into the bottom sea rocks and trapped there. However, it is not known what amount of sedimentary fields would withstand carbon dioxide produced for centuries. The engineers should eventually come up with a way of naturally sequestrating carbon dioxide considering the properties it has on the environment (Herzog et al., 151A). In conclusion, the carbon dioxide challenge is clear on its effects more than good both to the environment and the human being. It is the substantial factor contributing to global warming and climate degradation.

Despite the increased fossil-fuel burning, engineers should devise various methods of capturing the increasing emission of this gas and isolate it from the atmosphere.ReferenceFigueroa, José D., et al. "Advances in CO 2 capture technology-the US Department of Energys Carbon Sequestration Program." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 2.1 (2008): 9-20.Herzog, Howard J. "Peer reviewed: what future for carbon capture and sequestration?." Environmental science & technology 35.7 (2001): 148A-153A.

Hoffert, Martin I., et al. "Energy implications of future stabilization of atmospheric CO2 content." Nature 395.6705 (1998): 881-884.