Clean coal technology, particularly coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC), offers a way to effectively utilize coal while addressing environmental concerns by minimizing harmful emissions and maximizing energy efficiency.
Coal and clean coal technology
Coal is more evenly distributed on Earth than petroleum and has more than 140 years of fossil fuel life, yet it has been labeled a “polluter par excellence”. Coal has been used as a major energy source since the industrial revolution, but it has caused environmental problems as a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, with the recent high oil prices, coal has gained renewed attention thanks to advances in clean coal technology. Clean coal technology refers to technologies that minimize the generation of harmful substances when using coal. These technologies allow us to utilize coal’s abundant resources while addressing air pollution.
Today, with climate change and environmental concerns on the rise, there is a lot of exploration and research into different energy sources. In this process, not only renewable energy but also cleaner technologies for conventional fossil fuels have emerged as important research topics. Clean coal technology was born out of this trend and provides a more efficient and environmentally friendly way to use coal. This is especially important for countries with limited energy sources and regions with abundant coal resources.
Coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC)
Coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is a system that gasifies coal and then generates power through a combined cycle of a gas turbine and a steam turbine. IGCC consists of a coal gasifier, gas refinery, gas turbine, and steam turbine. The process of IGCC is as follows: first, the coal gasifier incompletely burns natural coal in a high molecular state at high temperature and pressure to convert it into combustible gas for use as a power generation fuel. After crushing the raw coal, it is fed into the coal gasifier along with a gasifier (air and oxygen) to gasify the coal, which produces fuel gas consisting mainly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide through an oxidation-reduction reaction.
IGCC technology takes a fundamentally different approach to traditional coal combustion. Instead of burning coal directly in its solid state, it is gasified and burned in a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, which can significantly increase energy efficiency. The resulting fuel gas is also subjected to a refining process to remove impurities, which helps to reduce environmental pollution. This plays an important role in maximizing the efficiency of energy production and protecting the environment at the same time.
Gas refining and power generation process
The fuel gas produced contains harmful substances such as dust, sulfur compounds, and acid gases, which not only damage gas turbines and other equipment, but also cause environmental pollution when discharged into the atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to remove these harmful substances through gas refining equipment, which produces pure sulfur as a by-product, which is used as an industrial raw material for pharmaceuticals, gunpowder, etc. The refined fuel gas is then fed into a gas turbine, which is used to generate electricity in the first stage. After this primary power generation stage, the heat from the gas turbine is recycled to generate steam, which is used to turn a steam turbine to generate secondary power.
This process allows IGCCs to generate power in two stages, making them more energy efficient than pulverized coal-fired power plants that burn coal directly to generate electricity. The system maximizes the thermal energy of coal to produce electricity more efficiently, while minimizing harmful emissions. This is not just a matter of power production efficiency, but also has important environmental protection implications.
Carbon dioxide removal process
IGCC uses a process that separates carbon dioxide from gasified coal before it is burned, which is easier than pulverized coal-fired power generation, which separates carbon dioxide after the coal is burned. As a result, it can remove more than 90% of the carbon dioxide emitted from power plants, making it the next generation of coal-fired power generation technology. IGCC requires a higher initial investment than conventional methods due to the complexity of the equipment, but the added cost of separating the carbon dioxide is small, which is favorable in terms of total cost.
In addition, the application of IGCC technology is not limited to the separation of carbon dioxide, but also opens up a variety of industrial applications. For example, the by-products of the gasification process can be used as raw materials for the chemical industry, which can create synergies between industries. Thus, IGCC technology can have a positive impact not only on the energy industry, but also on a wide range of other industries.
Potential as a future clean energy resource
Beyond simply addressing environmental concerns, clean coal technology can play an important role in ensuring the stability and sustainability of future energy resources. Coal remains an abundant resource, and if we continue to develop technologies to harness it effectively, it could be our primary energy source for many years to come. With more research and investment, clean coal technology could become a strong alternative to other energy sources such as oil and natural gas.
In conclusion, the development of clean coal technology offers an innovative way to achieve the twin goals of maximizing energy efficiency and protecting the environment at the same time. This goes beyond simply solving today’s energy challenges and will be an important foundation for future sustainable energy policies. Clean coal technology is an important tool for providing a cleaner and safer environment for future generations, and its possibilities and potential are endless.
