TECH: Development of Clean Combustion Processes with CO2 Capture:

An Overview of the Oxy-Fuel Combustion
Program and Test Facility at CANMET
by K. E. Zanganeh
Zero-Emission Technologies Group Clean Electric Power Generation (CEPG)

Combustion Processes with CO2Capture


Oxy-Fuel Opportunities and Challenges


Opportunities

• Produces a highly concentrated stream of CO2, ready for capture and storage
• With pure O2combustion, the exit flue gas volume may be reduced to 1/5th of air-fired combustion
• Offers excellent opportunities for integrated emissions control through reduced flue gas flow
• Eliminates the need for downstream NOxControl

Challenges

• Cost of oxygen production
• Lack of commercial demonstration
• Need for advanced materials for oxygen-fired combustion

CO2Capture & Storage (CCS)

• CCS could provide a bridge to our energy future in a carbon-constrained energy economy
• The Western Canada Sedimentary Basinprovides a unique opportunity for storage of CO2

Towards Zero-Emission Technologies

• A climate change response option and a part of a sustainable development strategy

Ensuring Zero-Emission Technologies Become a Reality


Oxy-Fuel Combustion Program at CANMET
Program Components:

• CETC Oxy-Fuel/CO2Research Consortium
• Near Zero-Emission Oxy-Fuel Combustion
• CO2Compression Unit
• Multi-Pollutant Control Technologies
• Modeling of Advanced Near-Zero Emission Cycles (including supercritical and ultra-supercritical power plant with CO2capture)

CETC Oxy-Fuel/CO2Research Consortium


Goal:
To develop oxy-fuel combustion technologies for improved efficiency and capture of CO2
from flue gas streams:

• Oxy-Fuel Burner development

• Boiler performance simulation

• Multi-pollutant capture and integration

• Advanced process and cycle development

• Field demonstration of oxy-fuel combustion

• CO2capture and compression unit development

Status: Program started in 1994 and is currently in Phase 9
Funding: About $1M (Cnd.) per year
Partners:
Ontario Power Generation, SaskPower) Governments of Canada Government of Alberta though AERI Babcock and Wilcox US Dept. of Energy


Activities:focused on 1st generation oxy-fuel combustion systems and other enabling technologies

• Performed extensive experimental investigations using coal, coalslurry, bitumen and natural gas
• Studied the characteristics of oxy-fuel combustion with flue gas recirculation (FGR)
• Investigated oxy-fuel Brayton/Rankinecycles
• Performed solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) modeling to explore potential for integration of fuel cell operating on syngas (H2 & CO)
• Conducted multi-pollutant capture research in the condensing environment for integrated removal of fine particulates, SOx and Hg

Outcomes: A unique knowledge database and a set of tools to facilitate the implementation of oxy-fuel technology with CO 2 capture

• Simulation and test results show that 1st generation oxy-fuel technology can be retrofitted to the existing coal-fired power plants
• Retrofit requires some modifications to the boiler system, but this leads to improved performance and lower NOx emissions

New Directions: Activities now target advanced (2nd and 3rd generation) oxy-fuel combustion units for
Minimizing recycle flow Better integrated emission control technology Zero emission gas turbine cycles

Zero-Emission Oxy-Fuel Combustion
Status: Project started in 2003 and currently in the 4thyear
Funding: Secured government funding of $2.3M (Cnd) for 5 years (2003 to 2008), with additional industry leverage
Technology areas: zero-emission oxy-fuel combustion technologies

• Moving towards the 2ndand 3rdgeneration of oxy-fuel combustion systems for power generation with CO2 capture
• CO2capture and compression performance testing & optimization

3rdGeneration Oxy-Fuel Combustion Systems
Hydroxy Burner Prototype
• Firing rate: 0.3MWth (1MMBtu/hr)
• Fuels:

1. Natural gas
2. Oil
3. Emulsion
4. Pulverized coal and coal slurry

• Operational modes

1. O2/steam
2. O2/RFG
3. O2/CO2
4. Air
5. Enriched air
6. O2/steam/RFG
7. O2/steam/CO2

• Variable secondary & tertiary stream mass flow rates
• Variable secondary & tertiary steam oxygen concentration
• Independent secondary & tertiary stream swirl


Prototype Design
First Generation:ed-Angle Swirl Generator

Second Generation:Variable-Angle Swirl Generator

Hydroxy Burner Anatomy

Pilot-Scale Testing at CETC
Vertical Combustor Research Facility (VCRF)

Features & Capabilities (VCRF)

• Highly modular and flexible state-of-the-art air-and oxy-fired facility
• Has a nominal thermal output of about 0.3 MW
• NG, coal, coal slurry, oil and bitumen can be burned in a controlled environment
• Can be used to develop novel integrated multi-pollutant control technologies, including NOx,
SOx, Hg and CO2capture
• Equipped with advanced process monitoring and control systems

VCRF Pilot Plant Overview


Vertical Combustor

Continuous Emission Monitors (CEMs)


Advance Flame Imaging System (AFIS)

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