Clean Coal Technology

Program

Kentucky Pioneer Energy IGCC

Demonstration Project  

Back to Projects

LOCATION

Trapp, Clark County, KY
(East Kentucky Power Cooperative's Smith Site)

PROJECT OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate and assess the reliability, availability, and maintainability of a utility-scale IGCC system using high-sulfur bituminous coal and municipal solid waste blend in an oxygen-blown, fixed-bed, slagging gasifier and the operability of a molten carbonate fuel cell fueled by coal gas.

TECHNOLOGY/PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The BG/L gasifier is supplied with steam, oxygen, limestone flux, and a coal and municipal waste blend. During gasification, the oxygen and steam react with the coal and muncipal waste blend and limestone flux to produce a raw coal-derived fuel gas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Raw fuel gas exiting the gasifier is washed and cooled. Hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds are removed. Elemental sulfur is reclaimed and disposed of as a by-product. Tars, oils, and dust are recycled to the gasifier. The resulting clean, medium-Btu fuel gas fires the gas turbine. A small portion of the clean fuel gas is used for the molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). The MCFC is composed of a molten carbonate electrolyte sandwiched between porous anode and cathode plates. Fuel (desulfurized, heated medium-Btu fuel gas) and steam are fed continuously into the anode; CO2-enriched air are fed directly into the cathode. Chemical reactions produce direct electric current, which is converted to alternating current in an inverter.

PROJECT STATUS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
On May 8, 1998, the DOE conditionally approved Ameren Services Company (merger of Union Electric Co. and Central Illinois Public Service Co.) as an equity partner and host site provider subject to completing specific business and teaming milestones. The new project site to be provided by Ameren was at their Venice Station Plant in Venice, Illinois, or near East St. Louis, Illinois. On April 30, 1999, Ameren Services Company withdrew from the project for economic and business reasons.

In November 1999, Kentucky Pioneer Energy (KPE), LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Energy USA, officially became the Participant for the project.  A new host site at East Kentucky Power Cooperative's Smith site in Clark County, Kentucky was established.  With the establishment of the new site the permitting and NEPA process began.  The EIV was submitted in March 2000, and the public hearing was conducted in May 2000.  The draft EIS is scheduled to be issued in July 2001 with the Record of Decision being finalized in November 2001.  On 24  May 2001, FERC confirmed KPE as an exempt Wholesale Generator and on 7 June 2001, the Kentucky Division of Air Quality issued the Air Quality Permit.  Also, the Kentucky Public Service commission issued a Declaratory Order of Non- Jurisdiction during this time.  Sources of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) have been identified and preliminary agreements have been reached to supply MSW.  Preliminary engineering to better finalize the cost has been completed.  Closure on financing the project will occur upon completion of the NEPA process.  Final design and construction should begin early 2002.

Commercial Applications
The IGCC system being demonstrated in this project is suitable for both repowering applications and new power plants. The technology is expected to be adaptable to a wide variety of potential market applications because of several factors. First, the BGL gasification technology has successfully used a wide variety of U.S. coals. Also, the highly modular approach to system design makes the BGL-based IGCC and molten carbonate fuel cell competitive in a wide range of plant sizes. In addition, the high efficiency and excellent environmental performance of the system are competitive with or superior to other fossil-fuel-fired power generation technologies.

The heat rate of the IGCC demonstration facility is projected to be 8,560 Btu/kWh (40% efficiency) and the commercial embodiment of the system has a projected heat rate of 8,035 Btu/kWh (42.5% efficiency). The commercial version of the molten carbonate fuel cell fueled by a BGL gasifier is anticipated to have a heat rate of 7,379 Btu/kWh (46.2% efficiency). These efficiencies represent greater than 20% reduction in emissions of CO2 when compared to a conventional pulverized coal plant equipped with a scrubber. SO2 emissions from the IGCC system are expected to be less than 0.1 lb/106 Btu (99% reduction), and NOx emissions less than 0.15 lb/106 Btu (90% reduction).

Also, the slagging characteristic of the gasifier produces a nonleaching, glass-like slag that can be marketed as a usable byproduct.

Contacts
H.H. Graves, President
Kentucky Pioneer Energy, LLC
312 Walnut Street, Suite 2000
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 621-0077
(513) 621-5947 (fax)
hhgraves@globalenergyinc.com


Return to top of page

Last Update: 10/17/01

[../../footer.html]