Technologies for increasing CO2 concentration in exhaust gas from natural gas-fired power production with post-combustion, amine-based CO2 capture

Enhanced CO₂ concentration in exhaust gas is regarded as a potentially effective method to reduce the high electrical efficiency penalty caused by CO₂ chemical absorption in post-combustion capture systems. The present work evaluates the effect of increasing CO₂ concentration in the exhaust gas of gas turbine based power plant by four different methods: exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), humidification (EvGT), supplementary firing (SFC) and external firing (EFC). Efforts have been focused on the impacts on cycle efficiency, combustion, gas turbine components, and cost. The results show that the combined cycle with EGR has the capability to change the molar fraction of CO₂ with the largest range, from 3.8 mol% to at least 10 mol%, and with the highest electrical efficiency. The EvGT cycle has relatively low additional cost impact as it does not require any bottoming cycle. The externally fired method was found to have the minimum impacts on both combustion and turbomachinery.     

Two novel oxy-fuel power cycles integrated with natural gas reforming and CO2 capture

Two novel system configurations were proposed for oxy-fuel natural gas turbine systems with integrated steam reforming and CO₂ capture and separation. The steam reforming heat is obtained from the available turbine exhaust heat, and the produced syngas is used as fuel with oxygen as the oxidizer. Internal combustion is used, which allows a very high heat input temperature. Moreover, the turbine working fluid can expand down to a vacuum, producing an overall high-pressure ratio. Particular attention was focused on the integration of the turbine exhaust heat recovery with both reforming and steam generation processes, in ways that reduce the heat transfer-related exergy destruction. The systems were thermodynamically simulated, predicting a net energy efficiency of 50–52% (with consideration of the energy needed for oxygen separation), which is higher than the Graz cycle energy efficiency by more than 2 percentage points. The improvement is attributed primarily to a decrease of the exergy change in the combustion and steam generation processes that these novel systems offer. The systems can attain a nearly 100% CO₂ capture.     

Biomass-fired cogeneration systems with CO2 capture and storage

In this study, we estimate and analyze the CO₂ mitigation costs of large-scale biomass-fired cogeneration technologies with CO₂ capture and storage. The CO₂ mitigation cost indicates the minimum economic incentive required (e.g. in the form of a carbon tax) to make the cost of a less carbon intensive system equal to the cost of a reference system. If carbon (as CO₂) is captured from biomass-fired energy systems, the systems could in principle be negative CO₂ emitting energy systems. CO₂ capture and storage from energy systems however, leads to reduced energy efficiency, higher investment costs, and increased costs of end products compared with energy systems in which CO₂ is vented. Here, we have analyzed biomass-fired cogeneration plants based on steam turbine technology (CHP-BST) and integrated gasification combined cycle technology (CHP-BIGCC). Three different scales were considered to analyze the scale effects. Logging residues was assumed as biomass feedstock. Two methods were used to estimate and compare the CO₂ mitigation cost. In the first method, the cogenerated power was credited based on avoided power production in stand-alone plants and in the second method the same reference output was produced from all systems. Biomass-fired CHP-BIGCC with CO₂ capture and storage was found very energy and emission efficient and cost competitive compared with other conversion systems.     

Part-load analysis of a chemical looping combustion (CLC) combined cycle with CO2 capture

This paper presents part-load evaluation of a natural gas-fired chemical looping combustion (CLC) combined cycle with CO₂ capture. The novel combined cycle employs an air-based gas turbine, a CO₂-turbine and a steam turbine cycle. In this combined cycle, the CLC reactors replace combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The proposed combined cycle has a net plant efficiency of about 52.2% at full-load, including CO₂ compression to 200 bar. The part-load evaluation shows that reducing the load down to 60% results in an efficiency drop of 2.6%-points. However, the plant shows better relative part-load efficiency compared to conventional combined cycles. The pressure in CLC-reduction and -oxidation reactors is balanced by airflow control, using a compressor equipped with variable guide vanes. A combination of control strategies is discussed for plant start-up and shutdown and for part-load when airflow reduction is not practically possible with current generation of compressors. The results show that the combined cycle has a promising efficiency even at part-load; however, it requires an advanced control strategy.     

Performance of an oxy-fuel combustion CO2 power cycle including blade cooling

The guiding idea behind oxy-fuel combustion power cycles is guaranteeing a high level of performance as can be obtained by today's advanced power plants, together with CO₂ separation in conditions ready for transport and final disposal. In order to achieve all these goals, oxy-combustion – allowing CO₂ separation by simple cooling of the combustion products – is combined with large heat recovery and staged expansions/compressions, making use of new components, technology and materials upgraded from modern gas turbine engines. In order to provide realistic results, the power plant performance should include the effects of blade cooling. In the present work an advanced cooled expansion model has been included in the model of the MATIANT cycle in order to assess the effects of blade cooling on the cycle efficiency. The results show that the penalty in efficiency due to blade cooling using steam from the heat recovery boiler is about 1.4 percentage points, mainly due to the reheat of the steam, which, on the other hand, leads to an improvement in specific work of about 6%.     

Sorbent enhanced hydrogen production from steam gasification of coal integrated with CO2 capture

In this work, CO₂ capture and H₂ production during the steam gasification of coal integrated with CO₂ capture sorbent were investigated using a horizontal fixed bed reactor at atmospheric pressure. Four different temperatures (650, 675, 700, and 750 °C) and three sorbent-to-carbon ratios ([Ca]/[C] = 0, 1, 2) were studied. In the absence of sorbent, the maximum molar fraction of H₂ (64.6%) and conversion of coal (71.3%) were exhibited at the highest temperature (750 °C). The experimental results verified that the presence of sorbent in the steam gasification of coal enhanced the molar fraction of H₂ to more than 80%, with almost all CO₂ was fixed into the sorbent structure, and carbon monoxide (CO) was converted to H₂ and CO₂ through the water gas shift reaction. The steam gasification of coal integrated with CO₂ capture largely depended on the reaction temperature and exhibited optimal conditions at 675 °C. The maximum molar fraction of H₂ (81.7%) and minimum CO₂ concentration (almost 0%) were obtained at 675 °C and a sorbent-to-carbon ratio of 2.     

Recent developments in membrane-based technologies for CO2 capture

Developing new methods and technologies that compete with conventional industrial processes for CO₂ capture and recovery is a hot topic in the current research. Conventional processes do not fit with the current approach of process intensification but take advantage due to their maturity and large-scale implementation. Acting in a precombusion scenario or post-combustion scenario involves the separation of CO₂/H₂ or CO₂/N₂, respectively.     

Integrated gasification combined cycle and carbon capture: A risky option to mitigate CO2 emissions of coal-fired power plants

The power sectors of many big economies still rely on coal-fired plants and emit huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Emerging countries like Brazil, China and South Africa plan to expand the use of coal-fired thermal plants in the next decade. Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is an innovative technology that facilitates the implementation of carbon capture (CC). The present work analyzes the maturity and costs of the IGCC technology, with and without CC, and assesses the effect of the technology risk on its economic viability. Findings show that the inclusion of the risk in the economic analysis of IGCC plants raises the cost of CO₂ avoided from 36 US$/t_CO2 to 106 US$/t_CO2 in the case of Shell Gasifiers and from 39 US$/t_CO2 to 112 US$/t_CO2 in the case of GE Gasifiers. Thus, the introduction of IGCC with CC on a wider scale faces huge uncertainties. The feasibility of these plants will rely heavily on the overcoming of the technology risk. Besides, its implementation in the short run will depend on government incentives to bear with the additional cost incurred in the first-generation plants.     

Techno-economic evaluation of the evaporative gas turbine cycle with different CO2 capture options

The techno-economic evaluation of the evaporative gas turbine (EvGT) cycle with two different CO₂ capture options has been carried out. Three studied systems include a reference system: the EvGT system without CO₂ capture (System I), the EvGT system with chemical absorption capture (System II), and the EvGT system with oxyfuel combustion capture (System III). The cycle simulation results show that the system with chemical absorption has a higher electrical efficiency (41.6% of NG LHV) and a lower efficiency penalty caused by CO₂ capture (10.5% of NG LHV) compared with the system with oxyfuel combustion capture. Based on a gas turbine of 13.78 MW, the estimated costs of electricity are 46.1 $/MW h for System I, while 70.1 $/MW h and 74.1 $/MW h for Systems II and III, respectively. It shows that the cost of electricity increment of chemical absorption is 8.7% points lower than that of the option of oxyfuel combustion. In addition, the cost of CO₂ avoidance of System II which is 71.8 $/tonne CO₂ is also lower than that of System III, which is 73.2 $/tonne CO₂. The impacts of plant size have been analyzed as well. Results show that cost of CO₂ avoidance of System III may be less than that of System II when a plant size is larger than 60 MW.     

Natural gas fired combined cycle power plant with CO2 capture

A natural gas (NG) fired power plant is designed with virtually zero emissions of pollutants, including CO₂. The plant operates in a gas turbine-steam turbine combined cycle mode. NG is fired in highly enriched oxygen (99.7%) and recycled CO₂ from the flue gas. Liquid oxygen (LOX) is supplied by an on-site air separation unit (ASU). By cross-integrating the ASU with the CO₂ capture unit, the energy consumption for CO₂ capture is significantly reduced. The exergy of LOX is used to liquefy CO₂ from the flue gas, thereby saving compression energy and also delivering product CO₂ in a saleable form. By applying a new technique, the gas turbine efficiency is increased by about 2.9%. The net thermal efficiency (electricity out/heat input) is estimated at 45%, compared to a plant without CO₂ capture of 54%. However, the relatively modest efficiency loss is amply compensated by producing saleable byproducts, and by the virtue that the plant is pollution free, including NO_x, SO₂ and particulate matter. In fact, the plant needs no smokestack. Besides electricity, the byproducts of the plant are condensed CO₂, NO₂ and Ar, and if operated in cogeneration mode, steam.     

CO2 capture performance of calcium-based sorbent doped with manganese salts during calcium looping cycle

The effects of manganese salts including Mn(NO₃)₂ and MnCO₃ on CO₂ capture performance of calcium-based sorbent during cyclic calcination/carbonation reactions were investigated. Mn(NO₃)₂ and MnCO₃ were added by wet impregnation method. The cyclic CO₂ capture capacities of Mn(NO₃)₂-doped CaCO₃, MnCO₃-doped CaCO₃ and original CaCO₃ were studied in a twin fixed-bed reactor and a thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA), respectively. The results show that the addition of manganese salts improves the cyclic carbonation conversions of CaCO₃ except the previous cycles. When the Mn/Ca molar ratios are 1/100 for Mn(NO₃)₂-doped CaCO₃ and 1.5/100 for MnCO₃-doped CaCO₃, the highest carbonation conversions are achieved respectively. The carbonation temperature of 700-720 °C is beneficial to CO₂ capture of Mn-doped CaCO₃. The residual carbonation conversions of Mn(NO₃)₂-doped and MnCO₃-doped CaCO₃ are 0.27 and 0.24 respectively after 100 cycles, compared with the conversion of 0.16 for original one after the same number of cycles. Compared with calcined original CaCO₃, better pore structure is kept for calcined Mn-doped CaCO₃ during calcium looping cycle. The pore volume of calcined MnCO₃-doped CaCO₃ is 2.4 times as high as that of calcined original CaCO₃ after 20 cycles. The pores of calcined MnCO₃-doped CaCO₃ in the pore size range of 27-142 nm are more abundant relative to clacined original one. That is why modification by manganese salts can improve cyclic CO₂ capture capacity of CaCO₃.     

An oxy-fuel mass-recirculating process for H2 production with CO2 capture by autothermal catalytic oxyforming of methane

A new oxy-fuel H₂ generation process with CO₂ avoidance is provided. The process utilizes mass recirculation of CO and H₂O to the oxyforming reactor. A comparison between non-recirculating and mass-recirculating oxyforming reactor operation is given. Main benefits of mass recirculation are emphasized. The oxyforming reactor is integrated with the H₂ and CO₂ separators, fuel cell and O₂ generator. In the process C/O is equal to 0.5 while C/H determines the temperature level in the reactor. The reaction system includes combustion, steam reforming and water–gas shift reactions. The oxyforming process is found to be mass transport controlled with O₂ as the limiting reactant. It is emphasized that under MR conditions the decomposition of H₂/CO₂ by water–gas shift reaction is suppressed by means of CO/H₂O-enrichment and hence MR conditions allow for higher temperatures beneficial to endothermic steam reforming reaction. Under MR conditions the thermodynamic equilibrium limits are overcome and all reactions are forced to proceed to the completion which enables 100% selectivities to H₂ and CO₂. The effects of operation parameters such as temperature, flow rate, pressure and composition are examined. The derived S-terms enable for the concise interpretation of the effect of pressure on the concentration gradients transverse to the flow. The consistent control algorithm of the oxyforming reactor is provided.     

CO2 capture and storage: Another Faustian Bargain?

A quarter-century ago, one of us termed the use of nuclear energy a Faustian Bargain. In this paper, we discuss what a Faustian Bargain means, how the expression has been used in characterizing other technologies, and in what measure CO₂ capture and storage is a Faustian Bargain. If we are about to enter into another Faustian Bargain, we should understand the contract.     

Kinetic study and modeling of the high temperature CO2 capture by Na2ZrO3 solid absorbent

Hydrogen production through sorption enhanced reforming (SER) use a solid CO₂ absorbent to increase hydrogen purity (98%) and to perform reforming and WGS reactions in one single step, thus producing high methane conversions and important energy savings. Na₂ZrO₃ is as an alternate synthetic CO₂ solid absorbent for SER applications. The present research is aimed to establish CO₂ sorption kinetics parameters; reaction order, rate constant, apparent, intrinsic and diffusional activation energies. Na₂ZrO₃ sorption kinetics was studied through TGA as a function of CO₂ concentration and temperature. A global reaction rate of first order in CO₂ and a strong dependence in temperature was found. The approximate solution to the shrinking core model was used to fit the data. Modeling results indicated the surface reaction as the main resistance to the reaction rate, controlling reaction kinetics with only a minor contribution of the product layer diffusion resistance toward the end of the reaction.     

Thermodynamic analysis of a membrane-assisted chemical looping reforming reactor concept for combined H2 production and CO2 capture

There is great consensus that hydrogen will become an important energy carrier in the future. Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced by steam reforming of natural gas/methane on large industrial scale or by electrolysis of water when high-purity hydrogen is needed for small-scale hydrogen plants. Although the conventional steam reforming process is currently the most economical process for hydrogen production, the global energy and carbon efficiency of this process is still relatively low and an improvement of the process is key for further implementation of hydrogen as a fuel source. Different approaches for more efficient hydrogen production with integrated CO₂ capture have been discussed in literature: Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) or Chemical Looping Reforming (CLR) and membrane reactors have been proposed as more efficient alternative reactor concepts relative to the conventional steam reforming process. However, these systems still present some drawbacks. In the present work a novel hybrid reactor concept that combines the CLR technology with a membrane reactor system is presented, discussed and compared with several other novel technologies. Thermodynamic studies for the new reactor concept, referred to as Membrane-Assisted Chemical Looping Reforming (MA-CLR), have been carried out to determine the hydrogen recovery, methane conversion as well as global efficiency under different operating conditions, which is shown to compare quite favorably to other novel technologies for H₂ production with CO₂ capture.     

Implication of CO2 capture technologies options in electricity generation in Korea

This paper estimates the future mitigation potential and costs of CO₂ reduction technology options to the electricity generation facility in Korea. The monoethanolamine (MEA) absorption, membrane separation, pressure swing adsorption, and O₂/CO₂ input system were selected as the representative CO₂ reduction technology options. In order to analyze the mitigation potential and cost of these options, it uses the long-range energy alternative planning (LEAP) framework for setting future scenarios and assessing the technology options implication. The baseline case of energy planning scenario in Korea is determined in a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. A BAU scenario is composed of the current account (2003) and future projections for 20 years. Alternative scenarios mainly deal with the installation planning options of CO₂ reduction technology (exogenous capacity, planning time, and existing electric plants). In each alternative scenario analysis, an alternation trend of existing electricity generation facilities was analyzed and the cost of installed CO₂ reduction plants and CO₂ reduction potential was assessed quantitatively.     

Hydrogen production from coal gasification for effective downstream CO2 capture

The coal gasification process is used in commercial production of synthetic gas as a means toward clean use of coal. The conversion of solid coal into a gaseous phase creates opportunities to produce more energy forms than electricity (which is the case in coal combustion systems) and to separate CO₂ in an effective manner for sequestration. The current work compares the energy and exergy efficiencies of an integrated coal-gasification combined-cycle power generation system with that of coal gasification-based hydrogen production system which uses water-gas shift and membrane reactors. Results suggest that the syngas-to-hydrogen (H₂) system offers 35% higher energy and 17% higher exergy efficiencies than the syngas-to-electricity (IGCC) system. The specific CO₂ emission from the hydrogen system was 5% lower than IGCC system. The Brayton cycle in the IGCC system draws much nitrogen after combustion along with CO₂. Thus CO₂ capture and compression become difficult due to the large volume of gases involved, unlike the hydrogen system which has 80% less nitrogen in its exhaust stream. The extra electrical power consumption for compressing the exhaust gases to store CO₂ is above 70% for the IGCC system but is only 4.5% for the H₂ system. Overall the syngas-to-hydrogen system appears advantageous to the IGCC system based on the current analysis.     

Tackling CO2 reduction in India through use of CO2 capture and storage (CCS): Prospects and challenges

CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) is not currently a priority for the Government of India (GOI) because, whilst a signatory to the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, there are no existing greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and most commentators do not envisage compulsory targets for India in the post-2012 phase. The overwhelming priority for the GOI is to sustain a high level of economic growth (8%+) and provision of secure, reliable energy (especially electricity) is one of the widely recognised bottlenecks in maintaining a high growth rate. In such a supply-starved context, it is not easy to envisage adoption of CCS—which increases overall generation capacity and demand for coal without increasing actual electricity supply—as being acceptable. Anything which increases costs—even slightly—is very unlikely to happen, unless it is fully paid for by the international community. The majority viewpoint of the industry and GOI interviewees towards CCS appears to be that it is a frontier technology, which needs to be developed further in the Annex-1 countries to bring down the cost through RD&D and deployment. More RD&D is required to assess in further detail the potential for CO₂ storage in geological reservoirs in India and the international community has an important role to play in cultivating such research.     

Pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxy-combustion in thermal power plant for CO2 capture

This paper presents a summary of technical-economic studies. It allows evaluating, in the French context, the production cost of electricity derived from coal and gas power plants with the capture of CO₂, and the cost per tonne of CO₂ avoided. Three systems were studied: an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), a conventional combustion of Pulverized Coal (PC) and a Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC). Three main methods were envisaged for the capture of CO₂: pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxy-combustion.For the IGCC, two gasification types have been studied: a current technology based on gasification of dry coal at 27 bars (Shell or GE/Texaco radiant type) integrated into a classical combined cycle providing 320 MWe, and a future technology (planned for about 2015–2020) based on gasification of a coal–water mixture (slurry) that can be compressed to 64 bars (GE/Texaco slurry type) integrated into an advanced combined cycle (type H with steam cooling of the combustion turbine blades) producing a gross power output of 1200 MWe.     

Optimization of H2 production with CO2 capture by steam reforming of methane integrated with a chemical-looping combustion system

Methane steam reforming (SR) integrated with a chemical-looping combustion (CLC) system is a new process for producing hydrogen from natural gas, allowing carbon dioxide capture with a low energy penalty. In this study, mass and enthalpy balances of an SR-CLC system were carried out to determine the autothermal operating conditions for optimal H₂ production. The evaluation was conducted using iron-based oxygen carriers. Two configurations were analysed, firstly with the reformer tubes inside the fuel reactor and, secondly, with the reformer tubes inside the air reactor. This paper analyses the effect of two parameters affecting the SR process, namely the conversion of methane in the reformer (XCH₄$X_{{\text{CH}}_4}$) and the efficiency of the hydrogen separation of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit (η_PSA), as well as two parameters affecting the CLC system, namely the Fe₂O₃ content in the oxygen carrier and its conversion variation (ΔX_OC), on the H₂ yields. Moreover, it also analyses the reduction of Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄ or to FeAl₂O₄. The results shown that a H₂ yield value of 2.45 mol H₂ per mol of CH₄ can be obtained with the reformer tubes located inside the air reactor and with Fe₂O₃ being reduced to Fe₃O₄. This corresponds to a CH₄ to H₂ conversion of 74.2%, which is similar to state-of-the-art H₂ production technologies, but with inherent CO₂ capture in the SR-CLC process.