Analysis and optimization of the Graz cycle : a coal fired power generation scheme with near-zero carbon dioxide emissions

Humans are releasing record amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels in power generation plants. With mounting evidence that this carbon dioxide is a leading cause of global warming and with energy demand exploding, it is time to seek out realistic power production methods that do not pollute the environment with CO2 waste. The relative abundance and low cost of fossil fuels remains attractive and clean coal technologies are examined as a viable solution. This paper helps identify the many options currently available, including post-combustion capture, pre-combustion capture, and a number of oxy-fuel combustion schemes. One cycle design in particular, the Graz cycle, holds some promise as a future power generation cycle. A model of the Graz cycle developed in this paper predicts a cycle efficiency value of 56.72%, a value that does not account for efficiency losses in the liquefaction and sequestration of carbon dioxide, or the efficiency penalty associated with the gasification of coal. This high efficiency number, coupled with the low technological barriers of this cycle compared to similar schemes, is used as a justification for investigating this cycle further.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Alexander, Brentan R

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ahmed F. Ghoniem.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40309

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/40309