Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed a novel system for combined-cycle power generation, called the LAJ cycle. This system could serve as a basis for the development of a new generation of high-efficiency combined cycles. In one of several possible configurations of the new combined-cycle fossil fuel power system, natural gas enters the system at 4.0 MPa and about 300 K, is heated and reformed, and is transferred to a turbine at 4.0 MPa and 1200 K. The gas expands in the turbine to 0.6 MPa and 800 K, and then flows successively to heat exchangers and a condenser-separator, after which it is separated into two gas streams, one containing principally CO with some CH4 and water vapor and the other containing pure H2. The CO and H2 flow to separate fuel cells and undergo electrochemical oxidation with the concomitant production of electricity. Separate streams of water and carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced, making this cycle compatible with carbon mitigation strategies based on sequestration. Model calculations indicate combined-cycle efficiencies greater than 70% based on the lower heating value of natural gas. The high efficiencies realized result from a combination of the high-pressure natural gas reformate expansion and the highly efficient CO and H2 fuel cells. Most of the power derives from the fuel cells in the system.
Application Research Based on Ecological Environment and Environmental Protection Technology
