Chemicals, fuels and electricity from coal. A proposed tri-generation concept for utilization of CO{sub 2} from power plants

Conference · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:20082290

Song, C

A tri-generation concept is proposed for the 21st century for making liquid fuels and chemicals along with electricity using CO{sub 2} from flue gases of coal-based electric power plants. The CO{sub 2} from flue gas in the power plant can be converted with CH{sub 4} (natural gas) to form synthesis gas (CO and H{sub 2} mixture) using the waste heat in the power plant. The H{sub 2}O and O{sub 2} in the flue gas will be used as co-reactants and need not be separated from the flue gas. The hot synthesis gas can be used as feedstock for fuel cells for electricity generation (such as MCFC and SOFC). The hot synthesis gas can also be used for gas turbines to generate electricity. The synthesis gas at moderate temperature can be converted into chemicals and fuels, e.g., methanol and mixed alcohols for chemical and fuel uses, dimethylether (DME) and mixed ethers for diesel fuel, dimethyl carbonate and acetic acid for chemicals. The fuels thus produced may be used either for conventional IC engines or in fuel cell-driven vehicles. This concept could also be applied, in principle, for natural gas-based power plants and IGCC power plants.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (US)
• OSTI ID: 20082290
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
COAL
DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS
ETHERS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS
LIQUID FUELS
METHANOL
NATURAL GAS
PRODUCTION
SYNTHESIS
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION