IWV-3:

Process engineering analysis of power plant processes, in particular with gas separation. ( IWV3 webpages)

At IWV-3, conceivable future power plant processes with CO₂ separation are being analysed.
The basic features of power plant concepts that appear promising, particularly those with separating membranes, will be simulated using a commercial plant program.
The process engineering membrane environment and the other power plant processes will be tuned to each other.

Power plants thus optimised with membrane technology will first be compared with competing power plants without membranes with respect to power plant efficiency. Specific CO₂ avoidance costs (euro per tonne of avoided CO₂ emissions compared with the respective base power plant without CO₂ separation) will then be estimated for the different power plant concepts.

Three main classes of CO₂ separation processes are distinguished for both natural gas and coal power plants:

• CO₂ separation after combustion ("post-combustion") with a CO₂/N₂ membrane or a different CO₂ separation technique;


• CO₂ separation before combustion ("pre-combustion"), for example after coal gasification and CO-shift, with H₂/CO₂ membrane or a CO₂ separation technique;


• Combustion with pure oxygen instead of air ("oxyfuel" process) saves CO₂ separation but requires O2 generation with an O₂/N₂ membrane (see diagram) or an air separation unit.