Combined cycle gas turbine power plant with coal gasification and solid oxide fuel cell

The United States has extensive coal resources; thus, it is important to consider coal as a fuel for electric power production. This work presents a theoretical study of a novel high-efficiency coal-fired power plant. In the proposed combined cycle power plant, the Conoco coal gasification process is linked with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and state-of-the-art gas turbines. The overall efficiency of such a plant can be around 60 percent, considering realistic heat, pressure, and other losses in the different components of the plant. If an additional steam turbine is incorporated the overall efficiency can be increased to about 62 percent.