System Analysis of IGFC With Exergy Recuperation Utilizing Low-Grade Coal

Abstract

Integrated Coal Gasification Fuel Cell Combined Cycle (IGFC) is expected to be the most efficient power generation system in coal fired power generation systems [1,2]. The Japanese project of the Strategic Technical Platform for Clean Coal Technology (STEP-CCT) aims a target efficiency of 65% (HHV) with exergy recuperation. We have been analyzing the processes of the exergy recuperated Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and the Advanced IGCC (A-IGCC) [3] which is expected to be realized in 2040. Previous studies have indicated a limitation of the quantity of high temperature steam in the case of auto-thermal reactions with the fluidized bed coal gasifier in the A-IGCC, in particular for TIT 1500 °C class gas turbine. The Advanced IGFC (A-IGFC) system can reduce the exergy loss resulting from combustion, and its ‘exergy recuperation’ is appealing. The waste heat exhausted from the fuel cells is recycled to the gasifier for steam reforming in an endothermic reaction with a low exergy loss and a high cold gas efficiency. Our current study focuses on the optimization of the unit configurations of the A-IGFC including gasifier, compressor, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), combustor, gas turbine, heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and steam turbine. The process simulator HYSYS®.Plant (Aspen technology Inc.) is employed in order to express the gasifier, the SOFC and the other units. The optimum construction over the whole system by numerical simulation was examined for higher energy utilization efficiency. Under ideal conditions using bituminous coal, we verified the power generation efficiency to be 64.5% (HHV). However, utilizing low-grade coals, i.e., lignite and sub-bituminous coal, is deemed an important future energy resource to compensate for a decreasing supply of good-quality bituminous coal. For these low-grade coals, the power generation efficiency was as high as 53.6% (HHV) under the following conditions: Gasifier inlet: coal 23.6 Kg/s (667 MJ/s), steam 16.44 kg/s; Reactor reforming gas: 30.0, 8.7, 2.0, 0.8, 0.3, 0.05, 0.24, 0.14, 0.1 and 5.5 kg/s for CO, CO2, H2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, HCN, N2 and H2O respectively. The projected power outputs with this system were, SOFC: 214 MW; Gas turbine: 318 MW; Steam turbine: 86 MW.