GE Gasification and their Proven IGCC Plant Capability

IGCC is the height of present day sophistication in power production for extracting the maximum amount of energy from increasingly scarce carbonaceous fuel reserves, but it doesn't stop there as IGCC emissions are extremely low compared with other combustion technologies and the process is ideal for incorporation of carbon capture (sometimes known as carbon sequestration).

GE and Gasification

GE is a world-leading supplier of power generation and energy delivery technology, equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries. Gasification is an important part of GE's solution mix, continuing to set standards for operational excellence and performance throughout the world.

This article leans heavily on the content of GE's Gasification Brochure, published by GE Energy, titled: "Gasification Proven Worldwide". For more information see ther website at gepower.com

GE says that it sees gasification as the Right Gasification Technology for the future for the following reasons:

■ It allows utilities to meet the challenges facing electric fleets, produce cleaner electricity for rate payers, and help avoid risks faced as an operator, a business and a community partner.
■ Increases the opportunities refiners, heavy oil upgraders, petrochemical plant operators and others can enjoy in the future.
■ Is one possible answer to concerns about high, volatile natural gas prices, domestic fuel security, increasing price differentials in light and heavy crude oil, increasingly tighter refining product specifications, stricter environmental regulations, tightening competition and the decreasing productivity of aging facilities.

That's a breathtaking claim, but as fans of IGCC technology (and GE are not the only player, althouh they are the biggest and most advanced) we think that they are borne-out by the facts.

Writing this at a time when the world is still reeling from the effects of the Japanese earthquake on their neuclear installations, and when as a result, the thought of increasing dependence on nuclear energy seems to be a very dubious option, is there any wonder that gasification4energy.com thinks it is clear that much greater investment should be directed toward gasification in the form of IGCC technology.

The Role of GE in Gasification

GE delivers commercially proven gasification technology for converting a wide variety of feedstocks into synthetic gas (syngas).

In 2005 GE already had more than 65 commercial gasification facilities, currently operating worldwide or in advanced development which were, and we assume still are, still operating.

To put it another way. GE has and more than 125 commercial gasification facilities which have been built since 1950, so GE can combine real experience with new technology innovations to deliver the best gasification solutions for their customers.

GE says that Gasification Adds Value. It is also a commercially proven technology that is used to efficiently convert:

• coal,
• petroleum coke,
• vacuum residue,
• asphalt,

other heavy oil streams

and even natural gas, into syngas.

The GE Gasification system does this through a non-combustion, partial-oxidation reaction.

The opportunity exists to process a wide variety of feeds into a wide variety of products is a hallmark of GE's gasification process.

"Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC)is the Pinnacle of Achievement at GE Energy."

They call it: "Staying Ahead of the Emissions Curve". In other words, GE says that despite constantly more stringent emissions limits being set by environmental regulatory bodies worlwide, IGCC is comfortable able to comply with these requirements as it is such an inherently clean energy production process.

IGCC is quite simply; the "Next Generation Power Plant"

GE sees IGCC technology becoming increasingly important in the world over the next 50 or more years. Reducing oil stocks will mean that the energy generators will change to using, wherever possible, low cost opportunity feedstocks such as:

• coal,

• heavy oils,

• and petroleum coke:

as the future "fuels of choice" for the power companies.

In short IGCC technology produces cost effective electricity while meeting strict environmental regulations.

For each gasifier type and fuel, there are vast numbers of technical possibilities. IGCC systems can be optimized by GE's engineers and scientists for each type of fuel, as well as site and environmental requirements. GE's has a great depth of experience, drawing on knowledge gained from successfully operating IGCC units, and breadth of syngas-capable gas turbines provides the capability to optimize the integration of process and power requirements.

GE is able to engage experts from throughout the gasification industry at both the operation and research levels to develop the most economical and reliable approaches to IGCC technology. By using the same combined cycle technology for IGCC that GE use for conventional systems, GE has been able to offer extensive experience, and high levels of reliability are assured.

Pollution Prevention vs. Pollution Control

GE's IGCC technology converts coal, or other hydrocarbon feedstocks, into a cleaner burning fuel, which then is burned in a gas turbine combined cycle system to generate electricity.

Most of the potential pollutants such as mercury, sulfur and particulate matter are extracted from the syngas prior to combustion of the syngas in the gas turbine.

It is a key to the whole IGCC philosophy that extracting these pollutants prior to combustion is more economical and more efficient than, post-combustion pollutant reduction. This alone is a huge step forward in reducing emissions, as not producing hazardous flue gases in the first place must be one whole lot better than having to somehow scrub them out of the flue gases before they escape to the atmosphere.

So, this brings GE to calling their IGCC technology a "Cleaner Coal" technology, and a product of ecomagination". By that they mean that they have the capability to bring to market new technologies that will enable their customers to meet pressing environmental challenges.

But, here are the final big advantages of IGCC for emissions reduction:

• GE's IGCC process emits less than half of the sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, mercury and particulate matter of a traditional pulverized coal plant, making the use of coal for power significantly cleaner.

• Plus, the process uses less water than a traditional plant and can be configured for carbon capture, further strengthening its environmental benefits.

Source: http://gepower.com