Coal-fueled pressurized chemical looping combustion (PCLC) combined cycle for power generation and CO2 capture - Topic 2

Kentucky residents have enjoyed the lowest residential electricity rates in the nation, due to the fact that a large part of Kentucky’s electricity comes from coal. However, the on-going CO2 rules and legislative controls on CO2 emissions are putting coal at a disadvantage in a carbon-constrained world because coal is the most carbon-intensive fuel for power generation. In order to reduce CO2 emissions and maintain coal as a viable fuel, the goal of this project is to develop an advanced technology to burn coal with in-situ CO2 capture for base-load power generation based on the chemical looping combustion concept. If successful, this project will provide a pathway to maintain and even strengthen coal’s competitive advantage for Kentucky’s energy sector. We propose a coal-fueled pressurized chemical looping combustion (PCLC) integrated with a flue-gas turbine combined cycle with CO2 capture. The proposed PCLC unit consists of two reactors. The first reactor is an Oxidizer in which oxygen from air is selectively fixed into an oxygen-carrier (OC) structure. The second reactor is a Reducer (Redox) in which coal is burned by OCs. The PCLC unit will generate two gas streams: 1) a high-temperature, high-pressure, clean gas from the Oxidizer used to drive an aero-turbine followed by a heat-recovery steam generator for a Rankine Cycle., and 2) a CO2-enriched stream from the Redox reactor for sequestration. The potential positive impacts from the proposed PCLC for large scale power generation include: 1) a higher-efficiency (~46%) alternate technology for electricity generation with CO2 capture; (2) a cost-effective means to control pollutants such as sulfur, Hg, and trace metals via pre-removal into a relatively small volume N2-free gas stream; and 3) significant reduction to cost of electricity of a commercialized CLC power plant by using relatively high performance and cost-effective iron-based oxygen carriers. This request will cover two aspects. First, the research effort will continue as the second year of awarded DEDI project (PON2 127 1300002874, duration from 7/1/2013-6/30/2015) including Task 3 and Task 4 proposed under the previous contracts. These remaining tasks will continue with the focus on optimization of operating parameters by testing on a bench-scale apparatus and by simulations. Second, additional research on (a) sulfur and nitrogen pollutant emissions; (b) interaction of various coal ash with the UKy-CAER developed OCs , specifically a red mud-based, and (c) an economic performance analysis of the proposed process for electricity production. During the first year of the project, an extensive research study on coal-fueled PCLC technology has been conducted on a lab-scale apparatus, including Task-1 (Evaluation on cost-effective iron-based oxygen carrier on fluidized bed), and Task-2 (Chemical-looping combustion using types of Kentucky’s coal). Very encouraging findings have been observed and reported to DEDI. If cost sharing (leverage funding) is offered, a budget with match and potential sources of funding for that match. Note: Because of ongoing commitments, the Office of the Vice President for Research is unable to provide matching funds. The project was awarded in June 2013, and this project will finish Year 2 of the original award, and add Year 3 tasks. The proposed budget and cost share are below. The cost share for the project will come from the principle researcher’s time, CAER general fund.