Progress Update for Commercial Plants of Air Blown IGCC

Abstract

Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is attracting considerable attention as clean coal technology for several reasons, including rising natural gas price, escalating environmental scrutiny and fuel diversification. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has developed an air-blown two stage entrained bed coal gasifier, which realizes the highest net plant efficiency by using a smaller ASU (Air Separation Unit), dry coal feed, and excellent reliability with a membrane water wall structure. A 250 MW demonstration plant is currently under construction in Japan and scheduled to start operation in 2007. This plant will validate MHI Air Blown technology under dispatching conditions. In the mean time, responding to increasing interest on this technology around the world, MHI is expediting the design of a 500MW IGCC plant to be operated with G class gas turbines. The MHI air blown gasifier concept is particularly attractive to the US market, not only because of the higher efficiency, when compared with oxygen blown designs, but because of its capability to handle a wide variety of coals including PRB. This paper will discuss what kind of IGCC will soon be commercially available and how it will fit practical needs in the US market showing the time schedule of realization of commercial plants and economical evaluation in addition to the technical integrity. MHI believes that IGCC is one of the most important clean coal technologies to contribute to worldwide energy security and environmental needs.