The role of IGCC in CO2 abatement

IGCC technology per se involves the potential of highest efficiencies, thus reducing the CO2 output accordingly. Moreover, the intermediate stage of synthesis gas makes it possible to remove most of the carbon compounds before combustion with acceptable additional auxiliary power demand. The separated CO2 stream is of highest purity and therefore suited for disposal e.g. in the deep sea or for reuse in chemical syntheses. So, methanol synthesis based on power plant CO2 has been investigated. This contribution presents the results of a pre-basic design for a coal-fired 300 MW-class IGCC power plant with methanol production using an external H-2 source. Based on a Siemens Model V94.3A gas turbine-generator, the standard IGCC has been equipped with plant components including CO shift reactors, CO2 scrubber, methanol synthesis reactors and distillation unit; additional investment costs amount to approx. 25 %. This concept is based solely on proven process engineering methods. Primary energy utilization as well as the resulting methanol production costs based on appropiate generating costs are discussed. Comparative CO2 emission figures make the advantage of such a coproduction process regarding this perfectly clear. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.