Spatial Comparison of an Air-Fired Furnace versus an Oxygen-Fired Furnace.

Foster Wheeler North America Corporation will conduct to two projects to improve carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture technology by developing a conceptual pulverized coal-fired boiler system design using oxygen as the combustion medium.  Using oxygen instead of air produces a flue gas with a high CO₂ concentration, which will facilitate CO₂ capture for subsequent sequestration.

The first project will develop modeling simulations that will lead to a conceptual design that addresses costs, performance, and emissions, and will conclude with a comparison to conventional systems.

The second project will involve computational fluid dynamics modeling to predict the gas compositions that will exist throughout and along the walls of oxy-combustion boilers.  The program will also use laboratory testing to determine the effects of oxy-combustion conditions on conventional boiler tube materials and to determine the effects of oxy-combustion on alternative higher-alloy tube materials.