Zecomix: A zero-emissions coal power plant, based on hydro-gasification, CO2 capture by calcium looping and semi-closed high temperature steam cycle

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyzes various aspects of the Zecomix cycle, a novel coal fired power plant, based on various innovative processes to achieve elevated efficiency and zero-emissions. A coal hydro-gasification process, using recycled steam and hydrogen as gasifying agents, converts carbon to CH 4 , which is then processed by two carbonator reactors where CH 4 , mixed with steam and contacted with calcium oxide, is converted to an H 2 /H 2 O based syngas while CO 2 is absorbed by the solid sorbent generating CaCO3. The synthetic fuel produced in the chemical island is burned with oxygen in a semi-closed high temperature steam cycle, with a rather complex supercritical heat recovery steam cycle. The main relevant operating parameters for the chemical island are varied in order to evaluate their effect on plant performance and to optimize the process. In addition, the paper presents a rather detailed analysis of some critical issues, often neglected in previous works from the literature. Net plant efficiency of 44–47% with a virtually complete carbon capture was predicted, a very interesting results with respect to other proposed coal power plants with carbon capture. The high complexity of the chemical island and the importance of a good sorbent performance in the critical conditions typical of this plant should be however taken into account for a fair comparison with other plant concepts.