INTEGRATED GASIFICATION COMBINED

CYCLE
Karan N Kuckian, Prasad L Jagtap, Vipendra Pandey
Mechanical Department

Abstract — This document expands the concept of the new gasifier is passed through many separation units in order to
technology called IGCC, which has revolutionised power remove the impurities such as sulphur, nitrogen and
generation. In this paper the process of IGCC, its impact on mercury present in it. The provision for carbon dioxide
environment, its advantages have been highlighted.
capture is also done. Now, the cleaned syngas is passed
Keywords— gasification, combined cycle
into the gas turbine, where it is combusted .This
I. INTRODUCTION combusted Syn Gas drives the gas turbine, thereby
generating electricity. The exhaust gas from the
As the threat to environment is increasing, so is the need for
combustion turbine (gas turbine) is recovered in the heat
an efficient, environment friendly system for power
recovery generator to produce steam. This steam is then
generation. The answer to this is the ‘Integrated Gasification
passed through a steam turbine to power another generator
Combined Cycle’ (IGCC). IGCC is a highly efficient coal
based power generation technology, besides being amenable
to comparatively energy efficient CO2 capture, a solution to
the climate challenge the world is confronted with. IGCC is
rapidly emerging as one of the most promising technologies in
power generation that utilizes low quality solid and liquid
fuels and is able to meet the most stringent emission
requirement.These systems are extremely clean and are much
more efficient than traditional coal – fired systems.
IGCC is a combination of two leading technologies. The
first one is called ‘coal gasification’, which uses coal to create
a clean burning gas called ‘synthesis gas’(SYNGAS).The
second technology is called combined cycle, which is the most
efficient method of producing electricity commercially
available today.

II. PROCESS
A. Coal Gasification
This process offers one of the most versatile and cleanest
ways to convert energy content of coal into electricity,
hydrogen and other energy forms.Rather than burning coal
directly, gasification breaks down coal or virtually any which produces more electricity.
carbon based feedstock into basic chemical components.
In a gasifier coal is exposed to hot steam and carefully
controlled amount of air or oxygen, under high
temperature and pressure. Under these conditions carbon III. ADVANTAGES
molecules in coal break apart setting in to motion a
chemical reaction that produces a mixture of carbon Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is an
monoxide, hydrogen and other gases. The gas is then advanced technology that represents the cleanest of currently
cleaned by a gas clean-up process. After cleaning, the coal available coal technologies.
gas (syngas) is used in the combustion turbine to produce
electricity.
Advantages of IGCC over current conventional coal-based
power generation systems include:
B. Combined Cycle
This design consists of a gas turbine, heat recovery steam
generator, steam turbine. The syngas formed in the coal A. Higher efficiencies and lower emissions:
 Improvements in efficiency dramatically reduces emissions
from coal combustion .Increasing efficiency from 35 to 40%,
for example, reduces carbon dioxide emissions by over 10%.
With efficiencies currently approaching 50%, IGCC power
plants use less coal and produce much lower emissions of
carbon dioxide than conventional power plants. With
development of new gas turbine concepts and increased
process temperatures efficiencies of more than 60% are being
targetted. Higher efficiencies translate into more economical
electric power and potential savings for ratepayers. A more
efficient plant also uses less fuel to generate power, meaning
that less carbon dioxide is produced. In fact, coal gasification
power processes under development by the Energy
Department could cut the formation of carbon dioxide by 40
percent or more compared to today's conventional coal-
burning plant.

B. Higher output:

Using Syn Gas in a gas turbine increases its output, especially

when nitrogen from an oxygen blown unit is fed to the
turbine. Thus a turbine rated at 170MW when fired on natural
gas can yield 190MW or more on Syn Gas. Furthermore,
output is less dependent on ambient temperature than is the
case with natural gas.

C. Product flexibility - including carbon capture and hydrogen

production:

The gasification process in IGCC enables the production of

not only electricity, but a range of chemicals, by-products for
industrial use, and transport fuels .Carbon dioxide can be
captured from the coal syngas (carbon monoxide and
hydrogen) through a water/gas shift process. The carbon
dioxide can be captured in a concentrated stream, making it
easier to convert into other products or to sequester (for
example, store underground) .An added advantage in this
process is that there are low additional costs for carbon
capture, particularly if the plant is oxygen driven. In addition
to electricity generation, hydrogen produced from the process
can potentially be used as a transport fuel, in fuel cells.

Future concepts that incorporate a fuel cell or fuel cell-gas

turbine hybrid could achieve even higher efficiencies, perhaps
in the 60 percent range, or nearly twice today's typical coal sr. ADVANTAGES
combustion plants. And if any of the remaining waste heat can no
be channelled into process steam or heat, perhaps for nearby CONVENTIO
factories or district heating plants, the overall fuel use EMISSIONS NAL COAL IGCC
efficiency of future gasification plants could reach 70 to 80 PLANT
percent.
NOX 350 ppm <25 ppm
1

SOX 600ppm 245

2

SUSPENDED 50 mg/m3 2mg/m3

3 PARTICULATE
MATTER

CO2 HIGH 10-20%

4 less

FUEL HIGH 7% less

5 CONSUMPTION

IGCC POWER PLANT IN TRICHY(INDIA)
The 182MW IGCC Power Plant is planned a an extension
of APGENCO’S Dr.NTPS,Vijaywada.The power plant
consists of a coal gasifier, power block and power plant
auxillary systems. The Gasifier block includes a Pressurised
Fluidised Bed Gasifier,a Heat Recovery Boiler,a gas cleanup
system to meet the gas turbine specifications and associated
auxiliaries.The Power block comprises a Fr-9E gas turbine
generator, a dual pressure Heat Recovery Steam Generator,a
Steam Turbine Generator and necessary auxiliaries.The coal
feed is taken from the existing 500 MW unit.The plant has its
own coal and ash handling plants. A Switchyard is provided
for power evacuation.
Fig. The research and development plant of
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited in Tiruchi.
The plant demonstrated IGCC-mode power
generation in March 1998.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
In the age of volatile and ever increasing natural gas fuel
prices ,strict new emission regulations and technological
advancements, modern IGCC plants are the answer to
growing market demands for an efficient and environment
friendly power generation. IGCC technology allows the use of
low cost opportunity fuels, such as coal, of which there is
more than a 200 year supply in the U.S. and refinery residues,
such as petroleum, coke, and residual oil. Future IGCC plants
are expected to be more efficient and have a potential to be a
lower cost solution to future CO2 and mercury regulations
compared to the direct coal fired steam plants. Thus, this
paper concludes that the capability to produce electricity, H2,
chemicals or various combinations, while virtually eliminating
air pollutants and potentially Greenhouse gas emissions make
IGCC as one of the most promising technologies for the
energy plants of tomorrow.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We greatly acknowledge the support given by
Prof.Mrs.M.S.Vedpathak, Prof.Mrs.V.S.Kumbhar, and Prof.
Vijay.Desai in the selection of the topic and related activities.
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