High Efficiency Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle with Carbon Capture via Technology Advancements and Improved Heat Integration.

Abstract: Adding CO₂ capture to fossil-fuelled power generation results in significant plant efficiency penalties, impacting the performance and economics of the plant. However, many of the public domain studies do not consider technology advancements and optimal heat and power integration. This paper evaluates the efficiency impact of improvements in technology selection, energy recovery and heat integration on the overall thermal efficiency of IGCC schemes with pre-combustion CO₂ capture. A previous study[1] has shown that the application of emerging or newer technologies and improved process/heat integration to coal-based integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) with carbon capture could achieve a cumulative efficiency improvement of more than six percentage points when compared with a current design. This paper looks in more detail at how some of these savings can be achieved and identifies improvements which could be achieved in the near term. In particular, the application of a modified shift system, Thiopaq O&G sulphur removal technology and a novel CO₂ wash system have been included in the scope. (For oil and gas applications, the Thiopaq O&G process is licensed by Paqell BV, a joint-venture company of Shell Global Solutions International B.V. and Paques BV). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]