HotVeGas

Fundamental research for the development of high temperature gasification and gas cleaning processes for IGCC power plants with CO₂ capture and storage and for the production of synthetic energy carriers.

The primary objective of the research project is to lay the necessary foundations for the development of future high temperature gasification processes with integrated hot gas cleaning and optional CO₂ capture and storage for IGCC power plants and for the production of synthetic energy carriers.

HotVeGas is a research project led by the Chair for Energy Systems at the TU Munich, financed by BMWi in the framework of COORETEC (CO₂ Reduction Technology), as well as by industrial partners.

The main research focus can be divided in the following work packages:

• Experimental investigation of gasification reactions under industrially relevant conditions in test facilities
• Experimental investigation of ash and slagging behavior
• Development of a database for the modeling of thermochemical and thermophysical properties of ash and slag under strongly reducing atmospheres
• CFD modeling of fluid dynamics, reactions, and heat transfer in entrained flow gasification processes
• Examination of ash reactions at highest temperatures and during cooling, as well as of hot gas cleaning
• Process evaluation and system optimization

Background

Coal power plants on the basis of IGCC technology (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) offer the advantage of high process efficiency (> 50%) and the opportunity for effective CO₂ capture and storage. Compared to competing systems for CO₂ capture and storage, the IGCC technology has major advantages:

• Highest efficiency / Lowest drops in efficiency
• Highest fuel flexibility
• Lowest emissions
• Upgradability of the CO₂ capture and storage system
• Operation also possible without CO₂ capture and storage ("no regret" strategy)

Another substantial advantage of the IGCC technology is that next to electricity, synthetic energy carriers such as hydrogen, methane, methanol, or liquid fuels can be produced as well. Currently operating  IGCC power plants reach electrical efficiencies of about 45%. Considering state-of-the-art technologies, IGCC power plants without CO₂ capture and storage can be planned today with an electrical efficiency of about 50%, realizable in about 5 years. If individual components and the entire IGCC concept can be further optimized, electrical efficiencies of up to 55% can be reached in the next 12 years. On the long-term timeline, significant potential exists in the development of integrated gasification and hot gas cleaning processes, whose development must be initiated today.

Project Partners