POWER January 2011 - 58

CARBON CAPTURE
verized coal plant with low or no recycling is
questionably feasible using known materials,
fabrication, and construction methods. Assuming
that some small savings in the boiler
island could be achieved, the net savings at
the plant level would be diluted while significant
performance and reliability risks would
be introduced.
Oxy-Combustion Is a Retrofit Technology.
Another criticism of oxy-combustion
has been that it cannot be used as a retrofit
technology. However, B&W/AL analysis
finds that the added equipment needed for
oxy-combustion requires about the same
plant area and has about the same complexity
of plant interfaces as post-combustion
technologies. Oxy-combustion does not
have the disadvantage of requiring major
steam turbine modifications or the addition
of an auxiliary boiler for energy supply to
the post-combustion capture process.
Another advantage of oxy-combustion
technology is that it can be installed to
achieve partial CO2
capture now at a reduced
capital cost, but it can be upgraded in
the future for full capture with the addition
of more ASU capacity.
A further advantage is that the oxy-combustion
plant can be cycled; it can be operated
in air-fired mode when electricity prices
are high and in oxy-combustion mode when
prices are low.
The B&W/AL analysis finds that oxycombustion
is just as practical to retrofit as
post-combustion technology and appears to
be more economical for 90% capture. The
only advantage that a post-combustion process
offers is the option to install a smaller
plant to remove less CO2
, but this has been
shown to be more expensive per ton of CO2
removed than when installing a 90% capture
system.
Final Thoughts
Oxy-combustion has come to the forefront of
CCS options by projecting lower emissions
and cost plus higher efficiency than other
options. B&W and AL have invested significant
effort in identifying and implementing
improvements in components, systems, and
process to achieve this potential. These efforts
have produced the opportunity to build
and test a commercial-scale 200-MWe gross
plant with the DOE and Ameren through
FutureGen 2.0. FutureGen 2.0 will be the
largest scale CCS plant in the world and is
expected to provide the basis for future CCS
implementation.
While FutureGen 2.0 proceeds through
Phase 1, B&W, AL, and URS are already
working on the next step: a 700-MWe gross
plant.
Oxy-combustion plants utilize proven
commercial components promising high
reliability. They operate very similarly to
conventional PC-fired plants, making them
more easily accepted by the utility industry.
Operating schemes have also been developed
to maximize revenue when power prices
fluctuate drastically from day to night.
Partial capture can be implemented if CO2
regulations start lower than 90% capture,
and a plant can later be modified to achieve
full capture as future emission limits are
ratcheted downward. ■
-D.K. McDonald, PE (dkmcdonald@
babcock.com) is technical fellow and
Steve Moorman (samoorman@babcock.
com) is business development manager,
Advanced Technologies, for Babcock &
Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc.
Arthur Darde (arthur.darde@airliquide.
com) is CO2 proposals manager and
Sebastien de Limon (sebastien.delimon@
airliquide.com) is deputy vice president
of sales for Air Liquide Engineering &
Construction Cryogenics Europe.
Everything you've ever wanted to know about thousands of companies providing electric
power and related energy services across North America!
The 2011 Edition of the Platts UDI Directory of Electric Power Producers and Distributors
is now available. This deinitive industry reference for the electric power sector in North
America draws information from direct surveys, annual reports, government ilings,
corporate web sites and other primary sources to provide comprehensive proiles and
detailed inancial and performance statistics for thousands of North American utilities
and energy service providers.
Proiles of 4,750 electric energy-related companies across
the U.S. and Canada, including listings for nearly 17,000
executive and other key industry contacts.
* 3,600 regulated electric utilities and holding companies
* 700 non-utility generators and energy service
companies
* 300 associations, power pools, and independent
system operators
* 150 agencies and commissions
Choose the format that best suits your needs
4Directory: Hard-copy for quick reference.
4 Mailing List: Hard-copy directory plus importable ielded
mailing list data on CD-ROM.
4 Statistical Proiles: Hard-copy directory plus importable
ielded mailing list and statistical data on CD-ROM.
Special Promotion: Receive free shipping by entering " FREESHIP " in
the discount code box during checkout.
Visit http://infostore.platts.com to purchase now.
For more information, contact us at 1-800-PLATTS8 (U.S. toll-free) or email support@platts.com
North America
+1-800-PLATTS8 (toll-free)
+1-212-904-3070 (direct)
January 2011 | POWER
EMEA
Latin America
+44-(0)20-7176-6111 +54-11-4804-1890
Asia-Paciic
+65-6530-6430
Russia
+7-495-783-4141
www.powermag.com
57

http://infostore.platts.com http://www.powermag.com

POWER January 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER January 2011