Speaker
Description
In recent years, CERN has implemented various strategies to minimize the usage of greenhouse gases (GHG) and prevent their release into the atmosphere. Among these, CF4 plays a significant role, accounting for approximately 20% of CERN’s direct GHG emissions. Mitigation strategies have included the research into environmentally friendly gas mixtures for detectors and the development of gas recirculation and recuperation systems designed to reuse exhaust gas. Building on this extensive experience, the CH4 Livestock Emission (CH4rLiE) project has developed a prototype for methane capture in barn environments.
Compared to CO2, methane has a significantly higher Global Warming Potential (GWP), with human-produced methane accounting for roughly 23% of global warming. As a single diary cow can release approximately 110 kg of methane annually, emissions from livestock farms are substantial. While several initiatives attempt to mitigate this by modifying animal feed, CH4rLiE employs a specialized recovery system derived from the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers CF4 recovery systems to capture methane that has already been produced and dispersed into the atmosphere.
This contribution presents the phases of the project, which concludes in February 2026. We report results from the study of gas adsorption by porous materials and the characterization of methane emissions via diffusion simulations and in situ barn measurements. Finally, the design of the capture prototype is discussed, alongside the first results from its real-world operation in a barn environment.