Comparison of Energy Flows in Air-Combustion and Oxy-Combustion.

The National Energy Technology Energy Laboratory’s (NETL) Office of Research and Development (ORD) will improve and validate modeling tools for optimizing the design of oxy-combustion systems for new and existing power plants. This project will enable NETL to analyze new and retrofit oxy-combustion plants, to predict performance, and to recommend measures to improve performance. ORD will utilize a laboratory-scale burner suitable to study basic features of oxy-combustion. The major objectives of this project are to: (1) develop a better understanding of the oxy-combustion flame, and of heat and mass transfer in oxy-combustion systems; (2) develop an understanding of the character and distribution of ash and slag in oxy-combustion systems; (3) develop solutions for the potential low-pressure steam turbine imbalance in retrofit applications; and (4) support development of improved systems and CFD models and modeling tools. An approach combining modeling, lab tests, and field work will be utilized. Another objective of this project will be to develop cooperative relationships with operating oxy-combustion facilities and to obtain data on oxy-combustion to supplement the ORD computational efforts.