An EU initiative for future generation of IGCC power plants using hydrogen-rich syngas: Simulation results for the baseline configuration

In spite of the rapid development and introduction of renewable and alternative resources, coal still continues to be the most significant fuel to meet the global electricity demand. Emission from existing coal based power plants is, besides others, identified as one of the major sources of anthropogenic carbon dioxide, responsible for climate change. Advanced coal based power plants with acceptable efficiency and low carbon dioxide emission are therefore in sharp focus for current development. The integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant with pre-combustion carbon capture is a prospective technology option for this purpose. However, such plants currently have limitations regarding fuel flexibility, performance, etc. In an EU initiative (H2-IGCC project), possible improvements of such plants are being explored. These involve using premix combustion of undiluted hydrogen-rich syngas and improved fuel flexibility without adversely affecting the availability and reliability of the plant and also making minor modifications to existing gas turbines for this purpose. In this paper, detailed thermodynamic models and assumptions of the preliminary configuration of such a plant are reported, with performance analysis based on available practical data and information. The overall efficiency of the IGCC power plant with carbon capture is estimated to 36.3% (LHV). The results confirm the fact that a significant penalty on efficiency is associated with the capture of CO2. This penalty is 21.6% relative to the IGCC without CO2 capture, i.e. 10.0% points. Estimated significant performance indicators as well as comparisons with alternative schemes have been presented. Some possible future developments based on these results and the overall objective of the project are also discussed.

[1]  Tong Seop Kim,et al.  Influence of system integration options on the performance of an integrated gasification combined cycle power plant , 2009 .

[2]  Paul Feron,et al.  The potential for improvement of the energy performance of pulverized coal fired power stations with post-combustion capture of carbon dioxide , 2009 .

[3]  Terry Wall,et al.  Combustion processes for carbon capture , 2007 .

[4]  Abass A. Olajire,et al.  CO2 capture and separation technologies for end-of-pipe applications – A review , 2010 .

[5]  C. Bouallou,et al.  Pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxy-combustion in thermal power plant for CO2 capture , 2010 .

[6]  Ligang Zheng,et al.  Comparison of Shell, Texaco, BGL and KRW gasifiers as part of IGCC plant computer simulations , 2005 .

[7]  Badie I. Morsi,et al.  Carbon dioxide capture and separation techniques for advanced power generation point sources , 2006 .

[8]  Olav Bolland,et al.  A quantitative comparison of gas turbine cycles with CO2 capture , 2007 .

[9]  Stefano Consonni,et al.  Shift reactors and physical absorption for Low-CO2 emission IGCCs , 1999 .

[10]  Carmen Clemente-Jul,et al.  Hot gas desulphurisation with dolomite sorbent in coal gasification , 2008 .

[11]  William L. Luyben,et al.  Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Dynamic Model: H2S Absorption/Stripping, Water−Gas Shift Reactors, and CO2 Absorption/Stripping , 2010 .

[12]  J. W. Dijkstra,et al.  Pre-combustion decarbonisation in IGCC: Gas turbine operating window at variable carbon capture ratios , 2009 .

[13]  Linbo Yan,et al.  Energy and exergy analyses of a Zero emission coal system , 2013 .

[14]  Giampaolo Manfrida,et al.  CO2 capture in coal-fired power plants—Impact on plant performance , 2011 .

[15]  P. A. Jensen,et al.  Oxy-fuel combustion of solid fuels , 2010 .

[16]  RajenderKumar Gupta,et al.  Oxy-fuel combustion technology for coal-fired power generation , 2005 .

[17]  T. Shimizu,et al.  A twin fluid-bed reactor for removal of CO2 from combustion processes , 1999 .

[18]  Vincenzo Balzani,et al.  Towards an electricity-powered world , 2011 .

[19]  Hartmut Spliethoff,et al.  A novel IGCC plant with membrane oxygen separation and carbon capture by carbonation–calcinations loop , 2011 .

[20]  Filip Neele,et al.  Capture technologies: Improvements and promising developments , 2009 .

[21]  Chakib Bouallou,et al.  CO2 capture study in advanced integrated gasification combined cycle , 2007 .

[22]  G.Lozza Glozza,et al.  Thermodynamic Performance of IGCC with Oxy-Combustion CO2 Capture , 2009 .

[23]  A. Smith,et al.  A review of air separation technologies and their integration with energy conversion processes , 2001 .

[24]  Hartmut Spliethoff,et al.  Power Generation from Solid Fuels , 2010 .

[25]  S. Sen,et al.  An Overview of Clean Coal Technologies II: Mitigating the Environmental Impacts by Continuous Improvement in Coal Combustion and CCS Technology , 2011 .

[26]  Aie.  World Energy Outlook 2011 , 2011 .

[27]  Richard A. Dennis,et al.  Development of Baseline Performance Values for Turbines in Existing IGCC Applications , 2007 .

[28]  George Tsatsaronis,et al.  Comparison of carbon capture IGCC with pre-combustion decarbonisation and with chemical-looping combustion , 2011 .