System Study for Improved Gas Turbine Performance for Coal IGCC Application
DE-FC26-03NT41889

In August of 2003, the National Energy Technology Laboratory entered into a cooperative agreement with General Electric Power Systems to identify improvements in gas turbine performance for coal integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) application. 

This work will define a roadmap towards achieving the Department of Energy’s goals for advanced turbines.  It will provide a total systems-level perspective to identify the development needs and improvements that have the highest impact and payback to the program.  The focus will be on air-cooled gas turbines for near-term operation in coal-fed oxygen-blown IGCC power plants with commercially demonstrated gasification, gas cleaning, & air separation technologies.  The study will identify vital gas turbine parameters and quantify their influence in meeting overall IGCC plant goals of 50% net HHV efficiency, $1000 per kilowatt capital cost, and low emissions.  Meeting these goals for a 500 megawatt coal plant could provide annual generating cost savings of about $50 million per year compared to current F-Class IGCC systems and savings of $20 million per year compared to conventional pulverized coal technology.  Additional NO_X and SO_X emissions enhancements can also be realized making IGCC the technology of choice for coal based power production.  This project will also provide DOE with information to set strategy for identification of future technologies for advancing IGCC gas turbine performance.