Integration of carbonation process with coal fired power plant to reduce CO2 emissions

Global warming is a major issue for today's world due to continuous growth of greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the major greenhouse gas which occupies approximately 55% of the total greenhouse gases. Coal fired power plants are one of the major contributors of CO2 emission. Different carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are available and some are being developed and implemented to minimise CO2 emission. Mineral carbonation technology is one of the CCS technologies where CO2 is sequestered as a solid environmentally safe stable carbonated product; however, carbonation process requires additional energy for pretreatment of the feed stocks (such as grinding of mineral) and compression of CO2 before carbonation. The main advantage of this technology is its exothermic reaction process. Heat energy required for pretreatment can be supplied from this exothermic reaction if heat energy can be recovered. Sensible heat from carbonated product can also be recovered from the carbonation process. This paper presents the feasibility of integrating carbonation technology with coal fired power plant. The results of its impact on power plant efficiency are presented and analyzed through thermodynamic energy balance. (C) 2012 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the International Energy Foundation