Engineering news
ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy will join forces on research into the potential of an integrated method of carbon capture technology, that could lead to substantial savings.
The companies are looking to show that utilising a combination of carbonate fuel cells and natural gas-fired power generation offers a more efficient and less costly system for carbon capture compared to conventional technology.
Specifically, the parties hope that the research will confirm their initial projected savings of up to one-third.
Chip Bottone, president and chief executive of FuelCell Energy, said: “Carbon capture with carbonate fuel cells is a potential game-changer for affordably and efficiently concentrating carbon dioxide for large-scale gas and coal-fired power plants.
"Ultra-clean and efficient power generation is a key attribute of fuel cells and the carbon capture configuration has the added benefit of eliminating approximately 70% of the smog-producing nitrogen oxide generated by the combustion process of these large-scale power plants."
Results from two years of laboratory testing have indicated that the use of carbonate fuel cells and natural gas-fired power generation in tandem captures carbon dioxide more efficiently than existing scrubber conventional capture technology.
In this system, power plant exhaust is directed to the fuel cell to replace the air that is normally used in combination with natural gas during the fuel cell power generation. As the fuel cell produces power, the carbon dioxide increase in concentration and can be more easily captured from the cell’s exhaust and stored.
The procedure also results in increased electrical output, because the fuel cells generate power, and reduced emissions.
Vijay Swarup, vice-president for research and development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, said: "Our scientists saw the potential for this exciting technology for use at natural gas power plants to enhance the viability of carbon capture and sequestration while at the same time generating additional electricity.
"We sought the industry leaders in carbonate fuel-cell technology to test its application in pilot stages to help confirm what our researchers saw in the lab over the last two years."
Research over the next two years will focus on increasing the efficiency in separating and concentrating carbon dioxide from the exhaust of natural gas-fuelled power turbines. Following this, a second testing phase will run a small-scale pilot project before the technology is integrated at a bigger testing facility.