Oxy-pressurized fluidized bed combustion: Configuration and options analysis

Bio-energy carbon capture and storage is a promising option to mitigate or eliminate CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-based heat, steam, and power generation. Among the different carbon capture technologies, oxy-fuel fluidized bed combustion is an attractive option due to its fuel flexibility and moderate operating temperature, making it suitable for bio-energy carbon capture and storage. A recent breakthrough in the development of this technology is operation under pressurized conditions. In order to assess the benefits of oxy-pressurized fluidized bed combustion, a number of design configurations and options were analyzed via process simulation. Three coals, one coke, and one torrefied hardwood biomass were selected for this work. A series of parameters, including reactor and system configuration, were varied to determine their impact on key performance metrics such as oxygen requirement, power balance, availability of high temperature heat, and by-product generation. The shift from coal to torrefied biomass only marginally affected the total amount of recoverable heat for power production, but resulted in significant reductions in both power and oxygen requirements. It was observed that an increase in operating pressure led to a higher amount of available heat due to the recovery of the latent heat of H2O condensation. An optimum operating pressure, ranging from 7 to 15 bar(g), was obtained when considering the total power consumed within the power plant. Results showed that the total quantity of recoverable high temperature heat is slightly higher for the circulating bed configuration in comparison to that of the bubbling. The use of a flue gas wet sulphuric acid process for sulphur removal resulted in the production of a high purity sulphuric acid product (>98 wt%) and increases in useable heat were noted at elevated pressures where total sulphur capture could be pushed to as high as 99.97%. Additionally, changes in flue gas O2 concentration via the wet sulphuric acid process and sorbent injection into the combustor were found to have significant impacts on process performance and natural gas/O2 demands.