ASSESSMENT OF MASS AND ENERGY INTEGRATION ASPECTS FOR IGCC POWER PLANTS WITH CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE (CCS)

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is a power generation technology in which solid fuel is partially oxidized by oxygen and steam / water to produce a combustible gas called syngas. Syngas can then be used either for power generation or processed to various chemicals (hydrogen, ammonia, methanol etc.). Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) represent a group of technologies aimed to capture CO2 from energy-intensive processes and then stored for long period of time in suitable geological locations. This paper evaluates in details mass and energy integration aspects for an IGCC power plant fitted with pre- and post-combustion carbon capture configurations based on gas-liquid absorption processes (chemical and physical solvents). Case studies analyzed in the paper are using coal to produce around 375 - 485 MW net electricity simultaneous with capturing about 90 % of the carbon contained in the feedstock. Two carbon dioxide capture options (post- and pre-combustion capture options) are compared with the situation of no carbon capture in term of mass and energy integration aspects as well as quantification of overall energy penalties. Plant options (no capture, pre-combustion and post-combustion capture) are modelled using ChemCAD and the simulation results used to asses integration aspects as well as overall plant performance indicators.