CO2 capture from combined cycles integrated with Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Campanari ◽  
Paolo Chiesa ◽  
Giampaolo Manzolini
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Co2 Capture ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells ◽  
Combined Cycles

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells as Means for Post-Combustion CO2 Capture: Retrofitting Coal-Fired Steam Plants and Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycles

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Spinelli ◽  
Stefano Campanari ◽  
Matteo C. Romano ◽  
Stefano Consonni ◽  
Thomas G. Kreutz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Co2 Capture ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Co2 Separation ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells ◽  
Combined Cycles

The state-of-the-art conventional technology for post combustion capture of CO2 from fossil-fuelled power plants is based on chemical solvents, which requires substantial energy consumption for regeneration. Apromising alternative, available in the near future, is the application of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) for CO2 separation from post-combustion flue gases. Previous studies related to this technology showed both high efficiency and high carbon capture rates, especially when the fuel cell is thermally integrated in the flue gas path of a natural gas-fired combined cycle or an integrated gasification combined cycle plant. This work compares the application of MCFC based CO2 separation process to pulverized coal fired steam cycles (PCC) and natural gas combined cycles (NGCC) as a ‘retrofit’ to the original power plant. Mass and energy balances are calculated through detailed models for both power plants, with fuel cell behaviour simulated using a 0D model calibrated against manufacturers’ specifications and based on experimental measurements, specifically carried out to support this study. The resulting analysis includes a comparison of the energy efficiency and CO2 separation efficiency as well as an economic comparison of the cost of CO2 avoided under several economic scenarios. The proposed configurations reveal promising performance, exhibiting very competitive efficiency and economic metrics in comparison with conventional CO2 capture technologies. Application as a MCFC retrofit yields a very limited (<3%) decrease in efficiency for both power plants (PCC and NGCC), a strong reduction (>80%) in CO2 emission and a competitive cost for CO2 avoided (25–40 €/ton).

scholarly journals Application of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells in Cement Plants for CO2 Capture and Clean Power Generation

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 6517-6526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Spinelli ◽  
Matteo C. Romano ◽  
Stefano Consonni ◽  
Stefano Campanari ◽  
Maurizio Marchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Co2 Capture ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells for Retrofitting Postcombustion CO2 Capture in Coal and Natural Gas Power Plants

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Spinelli ◽  
Stefano Campanari ◽  
Stefano Consonni ◽  
Matteo C. Romano ◽  
Thomas Kreutz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Co2 Capture ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Co2 Separation ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

The state-of-the-art conventional technology for postcombustion capture of CO2 from fossil-fueled power plants is based on chemical solvents, which requires substantial energy consumption for regeneration. A promising alternative, available in the near future, is the application of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) for CO2 separation from postcombustion flue gases. Previous studies related to this technology showed both high efficiency and high carbon capture rates, especially when the fuel cell is thermally integrated in the flue gas path of a natural gas-fired combined cycle or an integrated gasification combined cycle plant. This work compares the application of MCFC-based CO2 separation process to pulverized coal fired steam cycles (PCC) and natural gas combined cycles (NGCC) as a “retrofit” to the original power plant. Mass and energy balances are calculated through detailed models for both power plants, with fuel cell behavior simulated using a 0D model calibrated against manufacturers' specifications and based on experimental measurements, specifically carried out to support this study. The resulting analysis includes a comparison of the energy efficiency and CO2 separation efficiency as well as an economic comparison of the cost of CO2 avoided (CCA) under several economic scenarios. The proposed configurations reveal promising performance, exhibiting very competitive efficiency and economic metrics in comparison with conventional CO2 capture technologies. Application as a MCFC retrofit yields a very limited (<3%) decrease in efficiency for both power plants (PCC and NGCC), a strong reduction (>80%) in CO2 emission and a competitive cost for CO2 avoided (25–40 €/ton).

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells retrofits for CO2 capture and enhanced energy production in the steel industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Mastropasqua ◽  
Lorenzo Pierangelo ◽  
Maurizio Spinelli ◽  
Matteo C. Romano ◽  
Stefano Campanari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Co2 Capture ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

CO2 Separation From Combined Cycles Using Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Manzolini ◽  
S. Campanari ◽  
P. Chiesa ◽  
A. Giannotti ◽  
P. Bedont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Co2 Separation ◽  
Co2 Removal ◽  
Anode Side ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells ◽  
Combined Cycles ◽  
Exhaust Stream ◽  
Cell Modules

This paper presents an analysis of advanced cycles with limited CO2 emissions based onthe integration of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) in natural gas fired combined cycles (NGCC) in order to efficiently capture CO2 from the exhaust of the gas turbine. In the proposed cycles, the gas turbine flue gases are used as cathode feeding for a MCFC, where CO2 is transferred from the cathode to anode side, concentrating the CO2 in the anode exhaust. At the anode side, the MCFCs are fed with natural gas, processed by an external reformer which is thermally integrated within the FC module; the corresponding CO2 production is completely concentrated at the anode. The resulting anode exhaust stream is then sent to a CO2 removal section which is based on a cryogenic CO2 removal process, based on internal or external refrigeration cycles, cooling the exhaust stream in the heat recovery steam generator and recycling residual fuel compounds to the power cycle. In all cases, a high purity CO2 stream is obtained after condensation of water and pumped in liquid form for subsequent storage. The possibility to arrange the MCFC section with different configurations and operating parameters of the fuel cell modules is investigated, and the option to include two fuel cell modules in series connection, with intermediate cooling of the cathode stream, in order to enhance the plant CO2 separation effectiveness, is also examined. The MCFC section behavior is simulated taking into account Ansaldo Fuel Cells experience and reference data based on a dedicated simulation tool. Detailed energy and material balances of the most promising cycle configurations are presented; fuel cell and conventional components’ working parameters are described and discussed, carrying out a sensitivity analysis on the fuel cell CO2 utilization factor. The plant shows the potential to achieve a CO2 avoided fraction approaching 70–80%, depending on the CO2 concentration limit at cathode outlet, with overall electric efficiency only 1–2% points lower than the reference combined cycle. The plant power output increases by over 40%, thanks to the contributions of the MCFC section which acts as an active CO2 concentrator, giving a potentially relevant advantage with respect to competitive carbon capture technologies.

CO2 Separation From Combined Cycles Using Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Manzolini ◽  
S. Campanari ◽  
P. Chiesa ◽  
A. Giannotti ◽  
P. Bedont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Co2 Separation ◽  
Co2 Removal ◽  
Anode Side ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells ◽  
Combined Cycles ◽  
Exhaust Stream ◽  
Cell Modules

This paper presents an analysis of advanced cycles with limited CO2 emissions based on the integration of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) in natural gas fired combined cycles (NGCC) in order to efficiently capture CO2 from the exhaust of the gas turbine. In the proposed cycles, the gas turbine flue gases are used as cathode feeding for a MCFC, where CO2 is transferred from the cathode to anode side, concentrating the CO2 in the anode exhaust. At the anode side the MCFCs are fed with natural gas, processed by an external reformer which is thermally integrated within the FC module; the corresponding CO2 production is completely concentrated at the anode. The resulting anode exhaust stream is then sent to a CO2 removal section which is based on a cryogenic CO2 removal process, based on internal or external refrigeration cycles, cooling the exhaust stream in the heat recovery steam generator, and recycling residual fuel compounds to the power cycle. In all cases, a high purity CO2 stream is obtained after condensation of water and pumped in liquid form for subsequent storage. It is investigated the possibility to arrange the MCFC section with different configurations and operating parameters of the fuel cell modules, and the option to include two fuel cell modules in series connection, with intermediate cooling of the cathode stream, in order to enhance the plant CO2 separation effectiveness. The MCFC section behavior is simulated taking into account Ansaldo Fuel Cells experience and reference data, based on a dedicated simulation tool. Detailed energy and material balances of the most promising cycle configurations are presented; fuel cell and conventional components working parameters are described and discussed, carrying out a sensitivity analysis on the fuel cell CO2 utilization factor. The plant shows the potential to achieve a CO2 avoided fraction approaching 70–80%, depending on the CO2 concentration limit at cathode outlet, with an overall electric efficiency only 1–2% point lower than reference combined cycle. The plant power output increases by over 40%, thanks to the contribute of the MCFC section which acts as an active CO2 concentrator, giving a potentially relevant advantage with respect to competitive carbon capture technologies.

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