New Conceptual Design of an Integrated Allam-Cycle Power Complex Coupling Air Separation Unit and Ammonia Plant

Abstract

To meet the increasing demand for electricity consumption for global economic development and the urgent need for carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration for global climate change mitigation, the natural-gas-fired Allam-cycle power plant becomes very attractive due to its high energy efficiency, NOx emission-free properties, and inherent capability of producing pipeline-ready CO2 for various industrial uses. Bearing these merits, this paper has newly developed an integrated A3 complex, which integrates an Allam power cycle, an air separation unit (ASU), and an ammonia plant to simultaneously produce power, ammonia, water, and pipeline-ready CO2 efficiently and economically. The developed A3 complex is highly material-and-energy integrated among the three subsystems, where the Allam power cycle will empower the ASU and in turn be fueled by the pure oxygen feed from the ASU; meanwhile, the nitrogen stream from the ASU will be the feedstock of the ammonia plant to produce fertilizers. The efficacy of the developed A3 complex has been demonstrated by rigorous large-scale modeling and simulations. Its economic and environmental performances have also been systematically evaluated to exemplify its system excellence.