System and method for generation of high pressure air in an integrated gasification combined cycle system

• US 7,947,115 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Terrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUNG, GERALD LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/600,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 95/54, 961/30, 961/38, 60/391.82, 60/394.64, 60/394.65, 607/81
• US Class Current: 95/54
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/12 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/102 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/229 Integrated processes (Diffusion and at least one other process, e.g. adsorption, absorption)
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0251 by making use of membranes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/025 containing a partial oxidation step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/04 containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/06 Integration with other chemical processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/08 Methods of heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0894 Generation of steam
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/84 Energy production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0046 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0916 Biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/093 Coal
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0959 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/165 integrated with a gas turbine or gas motor gas turbine plants provided with a gas producer F02C3/28; engines using solid fuels F02B43/08
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1671 with the production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1675 making use of a steam turbine
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1861 Heat exchange between at least two process streams
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1869 with one stream being air, oxygen or ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1876 : with one stream being combustion gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1884 : with one stream being synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1892 : with one stream being water/steam
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/00 : Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels destructive distillation processes C10B
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/068 : in combination with an oxygen producing plant, e.g. an air separation plant
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/28 : using a separate gas producer for gasifying the fuel before combustion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 : Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/18 : Integrated gasification combined cycle [IGCC], e.g. combined with carbon capture and storage [CCS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 : the feedstock being materials of biological origin

Abstract

An integrated gasification combined cycle system. In one embodiment (FIG. 2) a system (200) includes an ion transport membrane air separation unit (210) for producing oxygen-enriched gas (209) and oxygen-depleted air (227), a gasification system (5) for generating syngas with the oxygen-enriched gas (209), a gas combustor (234) for reacting the syngas (224), and a subsystem configured to provide a first stream of air to the combustor (234) at a first pressure and to provide a second stream of air to the air separation unit (210) at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The subsystem includes a compressor (230) having multi-pressure outlets (203, 204).

Claims

1. An integrated gasification combined cycle system, comprising:

an ion transport membrane air separation unit for producing oxygen-enriched gas and oxygen-depleted air;

a gasification system for generating syngas from a carbonaceous fuel reacting with the oxygen-enriched gas;

a gas combustor for reacting the syngas; and

a subsystem, configured to provide a first portion of a first stream of air to the air separation unit at a first pressure and to provide a second stream of air to the combustor at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, the subsystem comprising an air turbine connected to receive a second portion of the first stream of air from which the second stream of air is provided and to deliver the second stream of compressed air to the combustor; and

an air chest for mixing the oxygen-depleted air and the second stream of air to provide an air mixture, wherein the air separation unit is configured in the system to deliver the oxygen-depleted air to the air chest.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second pressure is five to twenty percent greater than the first pressure.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first pressure is in the range of 150-500 psia and the second pressure is in the range of 120-475 psia.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first pressure is in the range of 200-300 psia and the second pressure is in the range of 160-285 psia.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the subsystem further comprises:

a compressor for generating the first stream of air with the air turbine connected to receive the second portion of the first stream of air and provide the second stream of air at the second pressure, wherein;

the compressor is connected to deliver the first portion of the first stream of air to the air separation unit and deliver the second portion of the first stream of air to the air turbine; and

the air separation unit is connected to deliver at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air to the combustor.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the subsystem comprises a compressor coupled to deliver the second portion of the first stream of air to the air turbine with the air turbine configured to generate the second stream of air at the second pressure, wherein:

the air separation unit is coupled to receive the first portion of the first stream of air;

the air chest is coupled to receive the second portion of the first stream of air and at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air; and

the air chest is coupled to deliver the air mixture to the combustor.

7. An integrated gasification combined cycle system, comprising:

an ion transport membrane air separation unit for producing oxygen-enriched gas and oxygen-depleted air;

a gasification system for generating syngas by reacting a carbonaceous fuel with the oxygen-enriched gas;

a combustor for reacting the syngas; and

a subsystem, configured to provide a first portion of a first stream of air to the air separation unit at a first pressure and to provide a second stream of air to the combustor at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, the subsystem comprising an air turbine connected to receive a second portion of the first stream of air from which the second stream of air is provided and to deliver the second stream of compressed air to the combustor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second pressure is five to twenty percent greater than the first pressure.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the first pressure is in the range of 150-500 psia and the second pressure is in the range of 120-475 psia.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the first pressure is in the range of 200-300 psia and the second pressure is in the range of 160-285 psia.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the subsystem further comprises:

a compressor for generating the first stream of air with the air turbine connected to receive the second portion of the first stream of air and provide the second stream of air at the second pressure, wherein;

the compressor is connected to deliver the first portion of the first stream of air to the air separation unit and deliver the second portion of the first stream of air to the air turbine; and

the air separation unit is connected to deliver at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air to the combustor.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the subsystem comprises a compressor coupled to deliver the second portion of the first stream of air to the air turbine with the air turbine configured to generate the second stream of air at the second pressure, and the system further comprises an air chest for mixing the oxygen-depleted air and the second stream of air to provide an air mixture, wherein:

the air separation unit is coupled to receive the first portion of the first stream of air;

the air chest is coupled to receive the second portion of the first stream of air and at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air; and

the air chest is coupled to deliver the air mixture to the combustor.