Exergy analysis of a negative CO2 emission gas power plant based on water oxy-combustion of syngas from sewage sludge gasification and CCS

A power cycle with water-injected oxy-combustion (water cycle) is investigated by exergy analysis. It is fueled with syngas (aka. producer gas) from gasification of sewage sludge. The cycle is equipped with a spray-ejector condenser (SEC). CO2 is separated and compressed for transportation and storage. The net delivered electric power is 31% of the fuel exergy. The task efficiency is 39% when the flue gas bleed to gasification and O2 penalty are subtracted from fuel, and CO2 capture is included in the useful product. The large part of exergy destruction, 80%, pertains to the combustor. Increasing the temperature or the pressure of the combustor outlet (turbine inlet) lead, as expected, to reduced exergy destruction and more power delivery. Reducing pressure of the gas turbine outlet (SEC inlet) also increases power production. Varying pressure and temperature of the SEC outlet affects the distribution of exergy destruction among units of the condenser, however scarcely the overall efficiency. Reducing the ambient temperature, including cooling water temperature, reduces the efficiency of the plant, contrary to the effect of conventional plants. The reason is that the low pressure of SEC relies on the pressure and mass flow of injected water, rather than the temperature.

Automated summary

This study investigates a power cycle called water-injected oxy-combustion (water cycle) using exergy analysis. The cycle utilizes syngas from sewage sludge gasification as fuel and is equipped with a spray-ejector condenser (SEC). CO2 is separated and compressed for storage and transportation. The net delivered electric power accounts for 31% of the fuel exergy. The majority of exergy destruction, 80%, occurs in the combustor.