Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle from coal

Abstract

An integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is a technology that uses a high pressure gasifier to turn coal, a carbon based fuels into pressurized gas, this is also known as synthesis gas or syngas. The IGCC system consist of 4 main structures; air compression and separation unit, gasifier, combustion and steam turbine and heat recovery generator.A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate possible relationships between the efficiency and types of gasifiers used in the integrated gasification combined cycle in terms of the key thermodynamic laws. Through this analysis correlations were established between varying coal compositions, types of gasification systems and thermal efficiency. It was found that the updraft gasifier had the highest efficiency across most reports, thus making this procedure the most efficient with today’s current knowledge in terms of the thermodynamic principles associated with coal-fired power plants. It was also established that coal with lower moisture content will generally allow a system to be more efficient.