Title: Analysis of efficiency of 'zero-emission' oxy-type ultra-supercritical power unit based on high-temperature membranes

Authors: Adrian Balicki; Janusz Kotowicz

Addresses: Institute of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland ' Institute of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Abstract: Oxy-combustion technology by eliminating, in the stage of preparation of oxidant, atmospheric nitrogen from combustion process is characterised by a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas, and thus, facilitates its sequestration. Power unit that operates in classic (air) combustion technology with a gross power output similar to the power of the investigated model is characterised by a CO₂ emission of 860 kg/MWh. The use of oxy-combustion allows to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by more than 90%, so it is worth to present both thermodynamic and economic consequences of the introduction of this technology. Thermodynamic analysis of the model assumed investigation of the impact of changes in the oxygen recovery rate on the basic characteristics of the power unit. In the next stage of calculations the estimated capital expenditures and a break-even price of electricity under the assumption that NPV is equal to zero were determined.

Keywords: oxy-combustion; zero-emission power unit; thermodynamic analysis; economic analysis; high-temperature membranes; carbon dioxide; clean coal; carbon capture; CFB boiler; efficiency enhancing; NPV analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2017.084513

International Journal of Global Warming, 2017 Vol.12 No.2, pp.188 - 206

Received: 05 May 2015
Accepted: 20 Oct 2015
Published online: 12 Jun 2017 *

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