Coal Combustion Steam Generation with Dual-Stage Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coal-based electricity generation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions due to its high pollution and carbon intensity, necessitating an efficient method to generate steam while minimizing environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the combustion of coal in a primary processing chamber with oxygen and water, followed by heat recovery in a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce steam, with subsequent processing in a secondary chamber to remove contaminants, and further treatment to produce a clean carbon dioxide stream, which is then used to drive a steam turbine for electricity generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If coal is combusted in traditional single-chamber plants, then electricity generation capacity is achieved, but greenhouse gas emissions and pollution are significantly high
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is divided into two separate chambers: a primary combustion chamber that operates at high temperature to maximize energy extraction, and a secondary chamber that processes the product gas stream to remove contaminants. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high electricity generation efficiency and reduced emissions by treating different stages of combustion separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful contaminants (CO, H2, SOx, NOx, particulates) are extracted from the product gas stream in the secondary chamber through various treatment processes. This extraction of harmful components enables the system to maintain high productivity in the primary chamber while eliminating the harmful factors that would otherwise be released into the environment.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If coal combustion is performed to generate steam, then energy production is achieved, but contaminant removal and environmental protection become complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple contaminant removal functions are merged into a single integrated secondary processing chamber system. The chamber combines cooling, condensation, scrubbing, and filtration processes in one unified treatment train, reducing the overall system complexity while achieving comprehensive contaminant removal for CO, H2, SOx, NOx, and particulate matter.
Solution Approach 2:
The product gas stream acts as an intermediary carrier that transports energy from the primary combustion chamber to the secondary treatment chamber. This intermediary approach allows the system to separate the high-temperature combustion process from the contaminant removal process, simplifying each individual function while maintaining overall system effectiveness.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional coal combustion methods are used, then steam generation is achieved, but coal consumption is high and environmental impact is severe
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by maintaining extremely high temperatures in the primary combustion chamber, which improves combustion efficiency and reduces the amount of coal needed. Simultaneously, the secondary chamber applies parameter changes through cooling and chemical treatment to eliminate contaminants, achieving both reduced coal consumption and minimized environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful hot product gas stream containing contaminants into a beneficial resource by extracting its thermal energy in the secondary chamber to generate additional steam. The contaminants that would otherwise be pollutants are treated and removed, while the thermal energy is utilized productively, reducing overall coal consumption and turning a harmful waste stream into a useful energy source.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces coal consumption by 50% compared to traditional methods, effectively manages contaminants, and produces a clean carbon dioxide stream suitable for sequestration, addressing the environmental concerns associated with coal-fired power plants.
Implementation Method 1
a primary processing chamber having at least one plasma arc torch
Implementation Method 2
recovering heat from the first product gas stream in a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce a first steam output
Implementation Method 3
the combined steam output is used to drive a steam turbine
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Preferred embodiments provide a system and method of generating steam comprising providing a continuous supply of coal (75), combusting the coal in a primary processing chamber (10) in the presence of oxygen (80) and water (85) to provide a first product gas stream (O), recovering heat from the first product gas stream in a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG 20) to produce a first steam output (29), processing the first product gas stream in a secondary processing chamber (32) in the presence of oxygen (90) and water (86) to provide a second product gas stream (Q) substantially free of inorganic, organic and particulate contaminants, recovering heat from the second product gas stream in a second heat recovery steam generator (HRSG 40) to produce a second steam output (49), and combining the first steam output and the second steam output. In preferred embodiments, the combined steam output is used to drive a steam turbine (100).