Petroleum coke is regarded as a difficult fuel because of its high sulphur content and low volatile content. However, its low price and increased production, means that there is a powerful economic stimulus to use it for power generation. In this work, a process simulation has been performed as part of a feasibility study on the utilization of petroleum coke for power generation with low-cost CO2 capture. The proposed system employs a pressurized fluidized bed combustor and a calciner. In the combustor itself, the petroleum coke is burned and most of the CO2 generated is captured by a CaO sorbent under pressurized condition to form CaCO3. The CaCO3 is transported into the calciner where limited proportion of the petroleum coke is burned with pure O2, and calcines the spent sorbent back into CaO and CO2. A nearly pure CO2 stream is obtained from the calciner for subsequent disposal or utilization. The predicted overall efficiency of the combustion is near 40%. The proposed system would also be suitable for firing other high carbon and low ash fuel, such as anthracite.
Concept for fluidized bed combustion of Consol char using a closed-cycle helium power plant with an estimate of the price of electric power. Final report