Oxy-Combustion Process for CO2 Capture from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Engineering Case Studies and Engineering Feasibility Analysis

This paper describes the Oxy-Combustion (OC) technology to capture CO2 emissions from pulverized coal (PC) fired power plants. Previous publications † described the pilot scale tests performed on the technology along with economic assessment. Upon successful pilot demonstration of the technology and favorable economics compared to post-combustion capture technology, engineering feasibility study has been launched. Detailed process simulations and engineering analysis are being performed on 550 MWe net power plant incorporating supercritical and ultra supercritical steam cycles. Air Separation Unit (ASU) design, boiler design and modifications, carbon dioxide compression and purification unit (CO2 unit) development are being carried out with fine details along with the cost estimations. Currently, calculations are being finalized for supercritical case and initiated for ultra supercritical case. Results will be available in few weeks and will be presented in the paper. An engineering feasibility study to retrofit OC technology is in progress on a 25 MWe existing PC unit. Functional analysis has begun with process heat and mass balances at various operating conditions, providing the conditions and information of new equipment required. No showstoppers were identified to retrofit the technology. Detailed cost estimation is also in progress to assess the cost required to perform a commercial demonstration of the OC technology on the plant being considered.