Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract
Environmental consciousness and energy prices are both leading to revolutionary calls
for energy alternatives, and cleaner power production technologies, and further to the
efficient use of sources (e.g. coal, natural gas). Integrated gasification combined cycles
(IGCC) are such technologies that can meet today’s power generation needs, through
the combination of high environmental performance, competitive cost-of-electricity and
broad fuel flexibility. In this work, systems of IGCC are modeled to provide a robust
basis for studies on energy efficiency and environmental improvement. Sensitivity
analyses are performed to screen a number of process parameters and operation
conditions, which lead to efficient processes. Pinch analysis principles are applied to
base cases such that design is better understood and improvement modifications to
design are generated for best energy and environment performances. The overall
performance of the system is evaluated and improved through constructing composite
curves for better heat integration and energy efficiency. From both studies of sensitivity
analyses and pinch analysis, emissions levels of CO2, SO2 and NOx are reduced and
environmental performance is improved. Economic evaluations of modifications and
improvement solutions are keys for a final decision of the optimal solutions. Moreover,
further steps of detailed design of heat integration opportunities are essential to adopt a
practical and feasible configuration.
1. Introduction
Energy prices and environmental global warming are strong drivers for new
technologies with more energy efficiency, and efficient use of energy sources. In coal
technologies, the emission of pollutants, especially green house gases, urged the
tightening environmental regulations to forcibly seek for new developments. These
developments aim principally at coal based electric power technologies, where IGCC is
an alternative technology to pulverized coal (PC) combustion systems (Zheng &
Furinsky, 2005). IGCCs have the potential to obtain higher efficiency and better
environmental performance for power generation. They also offer greater fuel flexibility
(biomass, refinery residues) and can offer multiple products (electricity, hydrogen and
other chemicals like methanol and higher alcohols) and byproducts (sulfur, sulfuric
562 M. Gadalla et al.
acid, slag). In addition, IGCC technology has the potential for CO2 sequestration (Zheng
& Furinsky, 2005; Ordorica-Garcia et al, 2006).
O2 N2
Figure 1. Simplified diagram for systems of IGCC (Booras and Holt, 2004)
3. Methodology
Improvement in energy efficiency and environmental performance of IGCC systems
require a rigorous simulation. All sections of the IGCC flowsheet (Figure 1) is
rigorously modeled using Aspen Plus® (coal preparation, air separation unit, ASU,
gasification, gas cooling and cleaning, acid gas removal, gas turbine, HRSG, steam
cycle, etc). Simulation was controlled using FORTRAN routines and design
specifications to reduce the number of initial conditions and to adjust variables. The
Environmental Design of IGCC through Pinch Analysis, Process Integration and
Parameters Analysis 563
main functional relationships (i. e. control structures) are: the amount of coal input is a
function of the gas turbine net power (272 MW), the amount of slurry water depends of
the coal input (35.5%), the make-up water for the steam cycle depends on the
temperature of the stack gas (125oC), the air input to the ASU is determined by the
gasifier net duty and the air to the gas turbine (GT) combustor is fixed by the combustor
net heat duty or the stoichiometric amount of air required. Due to the seven nested
loops, the five control blocks and many design specifications the model is very sensitive
towards the loop’s break points (i. e. tear streams) and their initial conditions. After
detailed analysis, a specific computational sequence was set up for the model, and the
ranges of initial conditions were established to improve the convergence. This
simulation model provide basis for sensitivity analysis, process integration, application
of pinch analysis in order to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of
the process.
4. Process Optimization
The performance of the process for different parameters is analyzed in the following
subsections. The main parameters analyzed within each analysis are thermal efficiency
based on the low heating value of coal (ηt LHV), cold gas efficiency (sCG), net power
output per ton of coal, O2:carbon ratio (O2:C) and air:clean syngas ratio (air:syn).
Improvement
4.1. Effects of Gasification Temperature
The study of the gasification temperature is performed under the operational range of
temperatures where gasification can take place with slagging of the ash (1250-1550 ºC)
(Zheng & Furinsky, 2005). As the gasification temperature increases, the thermal
efficiency decreases due to a decrease in the cold gas efficiency. This decline in cold
gas efficiency is due to a rise in the O2:C ratio in order to combust more carbon to reach
high temperature. On the contrary, the total net power increases because the steam
turbine power output rises due to a higher amount of the slurry used for the same
quantity of gas turbine output; however, the net power output per ton of coal consumed
shows a decreasing trend as the thermal efficiency. The CO2 and SOx emissions per unit
of power output increases due to the rise in the coal consumption for the same level of
GT power output. But the NOx emission per unit of power output decreases very
slightly due to a decline in the air:clean syngas ratio, thereby lessening the thermal NOx
formation.
4.2. Effects of Gas Turbine Inlet Temperature (Syngas Combustion Temperature)
The analysis is performed for a range of temperatures (Tcomb) around the base case
(1250-1550 oC). For an increase in Tcomb by 300 oC, thermal efficiency (ηt LHV)
increases by 5%. Along with an increase in ηt LHV, the CO2 and SOx emissions per
unit power output also decrease. This is due to a decrease in the level of coal
consumption for the same GT power output. But, the NOx emission increases because
of an increase in thermal NOx formation at higher temperatures. The carbon conversion
efficiency, the cold gas efficiency and the O2:C ratio remain almost unchanged as they
are independent of the combustor operating temperature.
4.3. Effects of Level of N2 injection
As the fraction of N2 injection to the GT combustor increases: i) thermal efficiency
increases, due to a decrease in the slurry (coal) requirement as more N2 is used to drive
the turbine, ii) net power output decreases due to a decrease in the steam turbine power
564 M. Gadalla et al.
output as a result of the reduction in the coal flow, iii) net power output per ton of coal
input increases because of the decrease in coal requirement for the same level of GT
output, iv) CO2, SOx and NOx emissions decrease due to the decrease in the coal
consumption and the diluting effect of the N2, thus inhibiting thermal NOx formation.
The carbon conversion efficiency, the cold gas efficiency and the O2:C ratio remain
constant because they are independent of the varying parameter.
4.4. Effects of Solid Concentration in Coal Slurry
With the rise in solids concentration, the O2:carbon ratio decreases because the required
energy to vaporize and superheat the water decreases. Therefore the syngas heating
value increases because less coal is being used to supply energy for the gasification.
Due to this, the thermal efficiency and the net power output per ton of coal input
increase. The emissions per unit power of CO2, SOx and NOx slightly increase because
of the slight decrease in the total net power. The net power is minimized with the rise in
solids-concentration because the amount of steam produced in the HRSG decreases as
the coal consumption decreases.
4.5. Simultaneous effect of N2 injection and Syngas Combustion Temperature
The thermal efficiency increases almost linearly with the combustor temperature for all
levels of N2 injection. Therefore, the power augmenting effect of the N2 flow is greater
than its diluting effect in the combustor. N2 injection level of 98% represents the
practical upper bound, as venting is inevitable and N2 can be used as a coolant in the gas
turbine (Christopher & Zhu, 2006).
5. Heat Integration
The complexity of the process flowsheet provides opportunities for heat integration and
potentials for improved efficiency and environmental performance. In this context, the
integration of the gasifier and GT combustor is analyzed. This study is complemented
by the integration of the air separation unit (ASU) and the gas cleaning unit.
5.1. Heat integration of the Gasifier and the GT-Combustor
In this analysis, the gasifier is integrated with the GT-combustor and the level of
integration is optimized by varying the oxygen and air requirements of the gasifier and
combustor, respectively.
With the increase in the level of heat integration, the net power output increases, but the
net power per ton of coal consumed increases until it reaches a flat maximum. The
decrease in the O2:C ratio with the increase in the level of integration has a positive
effect on the thermal efficiency at first, because it favors the gasification reaction
(compared with the combustion reaction) and increases the cold gas efficiency. Then,
with further decrease in the O2:C ratio, the carbon conversion efficiency and, in turn the
cold gas efficiency, start to decrease, thereby decreasing the thermal efficiency. The last
effect is to minimize the heat absorbed by the excess air, to maintain the operating
temperature.
5.2. Heat integration of ASU and the gas cleaning unit
The oxygen from the ASU to the gasifier is integrated with the condenser of the amine
regenerator (condenser regenerator) in the gas cleaning unit. This is proposed due to the
availability of high quality heat from the amine regenerator unit (Table 1). The
integration is achieved together with the analysis of the process for the level of
combustor and gasifier integration which is performed in section 5.1.
Environmental Design of IGCC through Pinch Analysis, Process Integration and
Parameters Analysis 565
6. Pinch Analysis
From simulation results, both process streams that have excess of heat and require heat
are extracted. Composite and grand composite curves (CC, GCC) are generated by
following pinch analysis-based approaches (graphical representations). The Problem
Table Algorithm can be employed to construct the grand composite curves for the
process (Smith, 2005). Figure 2 shows the composite curve CC for the overall process
for a minimum temperature difference of 20°C. The indicated hot and cold energy
targets are 200 and 490 MW, respectively; the pinch temperature is approximately
350oC. The minimum temperature difference can be however optimized for energy-
capital tradeoff. From CC, the process can be divided into two parts, one above the
pinch and the other below the pinch. Each part can be integrated fulfilling the pinch
analysis principles. On the other hand, GCC identifies the best matches for process-to-
process heat integration in terms of heat loads and levels of temperatures (Figure 3). As
shown in Figure 3, there exist heat sources of 50 MW at 1240-760oC, 100 MW at 760-
570°C, 70 MW at 320-240°C, and 60 MW at 35oC, giving a total heat recovery of 280
MW. Furthermore, the excess exhaust steam from turbines at around 440oC can be
utilized to satisfy the heat requirement (220 MW) of the process rather than exporting
steam from utility plants. This saves money and reduces emissions in global view. In
addition, steam line can be fitted on the grand composite curve such that the mass flow
rate of steam can be calculated according to the match with GCC and from the
properties determined from the ’steam tables’. Various levels of steam can be generated
at the process. Superheated steam can be produced up to a temperature of 360oC. As an
application, saturated steam at 230oC can be produced in equivalence of energy of 62
MW; steam production rate will be 123 tons/h. The heat duty on boiler feed water
preheating will be 19 MW. The profile of steam is shown against the GCC in Figure 5.
As a result, the amount of heat recovery achieved in the process and the steam produced
will lead to substantial savings in the utility imported from external utility plants. This
will correspondingly cut the emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere.
1250
1000
750
T ( C)
o
500
250
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
-250
H (MW)
1400
1240 oC
1200
Interval Temperature [C]
1000
HP Steam
800 760 oC
570 oC
600 50 MW 100 MW
Turbine Exhaust Steam 440 oC
400
320 oC 360 oC
70 MW 240 oC
Steam
200 190 oC
BFW 35 oC
0 CW
60 MW
Low temperature liquid -160 oC
-2000 100 200 300 400 500
Enthalpy [MW]
7. Conclusions
A design model for IGCC systems was modeled using Aspen Plus®. Sensitivity of the
process variables was studied resulting and a maximum thermal efficiency of 45% with
CO2 and SOx emissions of 698 kg/MWh and 0.15 kg/MWh, respectively, was found.
Heat integration of the gasifier and the combustor revealed optimal net heat duty for the
integration is 200 MW. The slope of variation in thermal efficiency was high, and
therefore a slight variation in operating conditions could lead to a significant loss of
efficiency. Further application of Pinch Analysis to the process resulted in large savings
of steam requirements of 220 MW, cut-down of global atmospheric gas emissions of
220+62 MW equivalence of steam load. Overall heat recovery within the process was
achieved on 280 MW of energy; this corresponds to a saving in utility costs and a
decrease in emissions; i.e. benefits to environment and profit improvement.
8. Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge to AECI (A/020104/08 and A/016473/08), the
Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (DPI2008-04099) for their financial support.
References
G. Booras, N. Holt, 2004, Pulverised coal and IGCC plant cost and performance estimates,
Gasification technologies conference, Washington DC, October 2004.
H. Christopher, Y. Zhu, 2006, Improved system integration for integrated gasification combined
cycle (IGCC) systems, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 2006, 1693-1699.
J. Minchener, 2004, Coal gasification for advanced power generation, Fuel, 84, 2005, 2222-2235.
G. Ordorica-Garcia, P. Douglas, E. Croiset, L. Zheng, 2005, Technoeconomic evaluation of IGCC
power plants for CO2 avoidance, Energy conversion and management, 47, 2006, 2250-2259.
W. Shelton , J. Lyons, 1998, Texaco gasifier base cases PED-IGCC-98-001, US Department of
Energy, Process Engineering Division, 2000, 1-52.
R. Smith, 2005, Chemical Process Design and Integration, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
S. Sugiyama, N. Suzuki, Y. Kato, K. Yoshikawa, A. Omina, T. Ishii, K. Yoshikawa, T. Kiga,
2005, Gasification performance of coals using high temperature air, Energy, 30, 2005, 399-
413.
L. Zheng, E. Furinsky, 2005, Comparison of Shell, Texaco, BGL and KRW gasifiers as part of
IGCC plant computer simulations, Energy conversion and management, 46, 2005, 1767-1779.