CaO-Based Energy and CO2 Storage System for the Flexibilization of an IGCC Plant with Carbon Capture

Abstract

Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants have significant potential for efficient power generation with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The IGCC process with CCS, however, has multiple temperature and flow constraints which severely limit its flexibility to meet the dynamic demands of the current grid. A novel energy and CO2 storage system based on the reversible reaction of CaO with CO2 has therefore recently been proposed, to enable a temporary increase in the IGCC peak power output. This is achieved by (1) providing additional high quality heat for electricity production and (2) providing temporary CO2 storage, thus reducing the parasitic load of the CCS system by reducing the energy requirements for acid gas removal (AGR) and CO2 compression. In contrast to existing concepts, the carbonation–calcination loop herein is operated in a cyclic mode; the CaCO3 produced during carbonation is not regenerated immediately, but stored until off-peak periods during which the CaCO3 is regenerated res...