Heat Energy Recovery and Low CO2 Emission for Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants Using Plasma Treatment

Abstract

AbstractIn a liquefied natural gas, gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation plant that has a high total power generation efficiency, zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emission can be achieved if the energy efficiency of the nonthermal plasma (NTP) CO2 reduction process is at least 49%. In this article, we discuss zero CO2 emission power plants, including introduction to GTCC power plants, carbon monoxide (CO) gas turbine systems, and NTP conversion technologies for converting CO2 into synthesized gas fuels (with the main component being CO) by the recirculation of exhaust gas. To reduce CO2 emissions in a self-consistent manner at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, the method of conversion of CO2 into CO by NTP using reduction technologies is explained. The CO2 reduction performance of the two processes is evaluated experimentally using different gas mixtures. First, CO2 is adsorbed from a gas flow mixture comprising argon (Ar) or helium (He), nitrogen, and CO2 (approximately 10% concentration) onto an adsorbent; afterward, CO2 is desorbed and reduced by Ar or He NTP flow to a higher concentration of 10–22% under similar experimental conditions. An energy efficiency of 20% is achieved in the laboratory with plasma catalysts. The findings indicate that a CO2 reduction of 41% is possible for GTCC plants following the scaling up of the NTP system to an industrial scale.KeywordsLiquified natural gasPlasma treatmentHeat energy recoveryCombined cyclePower plant