System Issues and Tradeoffs Associated with Syngas Production and Combustion

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Combustion Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00102200801962872· OSTI ID:1015369

Casleton, Kent H; Breault, Ronald W; Richards, George A

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the basic technology of coal gasification for the production of syngas and the utilization of that syngas in power generation. The common gasifier types, fixed=moving bed, fluidized bed, entrained flow, and transport, are described, and accompanying typical product syngas compositions are shown for different coal ranks. Substantial variation in product gas composition is observed with changes in gasifier and coal feed type. Fuel contaminants such as sulfur, nitrogen, ash, as well as heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and selenium, can be removed to protect the environment and downstream processes. A variety of methods for syngas utilization for power production are discussed, including both present (gas turbine and internal combustion engines) and future technologies, including oxy-fuel, chemical looping, fuel cells, and hybrids. Goals to improve system efficiencies, further reduce NOx emissions, and provide options for CO2 sequestration require advancements in many aspects of IGCC plants, including the combustion system. Areas for improvements in combustion technology that could minimize these tradeoffs between cost, complexity, and performance are discussed.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV (United States). In-house Research
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (FE)
• DOE Contract Number: XX0000000
• OSTI ID: 1015369
• Report Number(s): NETL-TPR-1698; TRN: US201111%%569
• Journal Information: Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 180, Issue 6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ARSENIC
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL RANK
COMBUSTION
FLUIDIZED BEDS
FUEL CELLS
HEAVY METALS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MERCURY
NITROGEN
PERFORMANCE
POWER GENERATION
PRODUCTION
SELENIUM
SULFUR
TRANSPORT
TURBINES
Carbon dioxide capture
Gasification
Syngas utilization