IGCC Power Plant with a Water-Gas Shift Membrane Reactor (WGS-MR) and Method for Operating Such an IGCC Power Plant with Purge Gas

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The patent describes an advanced integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant featuring a single-stage, adiabatic water-gas shift membrane reactor (WGS-MR). The innovation utilizes part of the gas turbine's exhaust as a purging gas for the hydrogen-selective membrane. In this system, synthesis gas from gasified solid fuels is shifted to maximize hydrogen and CO2 output, with hydrogen selectively separated via the membrane. The CO2-rich remaining gas can be efficiently conditioned for storage, while the separated hydrogen and purge gas are fed into the gas turbine for electricity generation. This design improves efficiency, simplifies the plant architecture, and facilitates carbon capture.

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• Power generation from coal, biomass, or waste in IGCC plants with integrated carbon capture.
• Electricity production with significantly reduced CO2 emissions.
• Hydrogen-rich gas production for use in power generation, industrial processes, or as a fuel.
• Integration into carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure for climate-friendly energy production.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Highly efficient hydrogen separation and CO2 capture, enabling low-carbon power generation.
• Simplified plant design by combining water-gas shift reaction and hydrogen membrane separation into a single, adiabatic stage.
• Enhanced thermal efficiency through optimal recovery and transfer of reaction heat to the combined cycle process.
• Reduced technical effort and operational complexity, lowering costs and increasing reliability.
• Facilitates compliance with stricter emissions and environmental regulations, contributing to climate change mitigation.
• Potentially adaptable for various solid fuels, increasing energy resource flexibility.

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Patent Abstract

The method involves supplying a solid fuel and oxygen to a carburetor and supplying fuel gas, e.g. carbon monoxide and hydrogen, to a shifting process. The transformation of the carbon monoxide is carried out with water vapor in carbon di-oxide and hydrogen. A part of an exhaust gas is utilized as purging gas for a membrane filter. The exhaust is produced in gas turbine process. The hydrogen separation is carried out by the membrane filter that is combined in a water gas shift membrane reactor. An independent claim is also included for an integrated gasification combined cycle power station, which has a gas turbine.