Low Emission Coal Use » Low Emission Coal Use
The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicated, this using an ASU for oxygen supply, standard furnace designs with externally recirculated flue gas, and limited thermal integration of the ASU and compression plant with the power plant. This includes the currently announced pilot-scale and industrial scale plant and demonstrations with and without CCS. At its current state of maturity oxy-fuel technology may be considered pre-commercial. During the period of the project several oxyfuel demonstrations have been announced, with others being cancelled. Noting the location of the projects, several are in the EU (8 projects), some in the USA (5 projects), others in Australia, and Korea, indicating the strength of the EU in oxyfuel CCS.
By 2010/2011 several boiler manufacturers will have operating experience on full scale burners. The other world "first" oxyfuel demonstrations noted are:
· Vattenfalls Schwarze Pumpe being the first full chain oxyfuel pilot-plant project having all operations other than electricity generation;
· The TOTAL project as the first CCS project with power generation and pipeline CO2 transport, and is NG fired;
· The Callide project being the first coal fired retrofit with power generation and CCS; and
· The CIUDEN project being the first project with CFB technology.
Australia made an early start on oxy-fuel R&D compared to many countries. There are a number of aspects which characterise the Australian situation, including the characteristics of power stations, coal property and regulatory aspects, local skills and links with international programs. Oxy-fuel research and technology development is coordinated and progressed through international organisations and events, with Australian researchers continuing to play leading roles in these activities.
Detailed technical research activities in heat transfer, coal reactivity and ignition, an sulphur impacts and control in oxyfuel technology are detailed in Appendices.