PLANT AND PLANT OPERATION METHOD
20210131348 · 2021-05-06
Inventors
- Hideyuki UECHI (Tokyo, JP)
- Norihisa Matake (Tokyo, JP)
- Kouji HORIZOE (Tokyo, JP)
- Shigenori Suemori (Tokyo, JP)
- Yasutaka Aoki (Tokyo, JP)
- Yuya KONNO (Tokyo, JP)
Cpc classification
H01M8/0631
ELECTRICITY
F05D2220/32
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02C3/22
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01D25/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02C6/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01M8/0693
ELECTRICITY
H01M8/04014
ELECTRICITY
F01K27/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01K23/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02B90/10
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F05D2240/35
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01M2250/10
ELECTRICITY
H01M8/0662
ELECTRICITY
Y02E20/18
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F02C1/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01M8/04201
ELECTRICITY
F05D2220/70
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01M8/0618
ELECTRICITY
F02C7/224
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F02C6/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01K23/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01K27/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02C3/22
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02C7/224
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01M8/04082
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
A plant includes a fuel supply line for supplying high-pressure fuel gas; and at least one expander disposed in the fuel supply line and configured to extract power from the high-pressure fuel gas by expanding the high-pressure fuel gas.
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. A plant, comprising: a fuel supply line for supplying high-pressure fuel gas; and at least one expander disposed in the fuel supply line and configured to extract power from the high-pressure fuel gas by expanding the high-pressure fuel gas; a heater, disposed in the fuel-supply line at an upstream side of an expander of the at least one expander, for heating the high-pressure fuel gas flowing into the expander; a CO.sub.2 rich gas line through which CO.sub.2 rich gas flows; and at least one compressor, disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line, for pressurizing the CO.sub.2 rich gas, wherein the heater is configured to heat the high-pressure fuel gas by using waste heat of the at least one compressor, wherein the plant further comprises a fuel cell which includes an anode, a cathode supplied with exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide, and an electrolyte configured to transfer carbonate ion derived from the carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas from the cathode to the anode, wherein the at least one compressor is configured to compress the CO.sub.2 rich gas derived from an outlet gas of the anode, and wherein the anode of the fuel cell is configured to be supplied with the high-pressure fuel gas from which power has been recovered by the at least one expander.
18. The plant according to claim 17, wherein the at least one expander includes a plurality of expanders disposed so as to be arranged in a flow direction of the high-pressure fuel gas, and wherein the plant comprises a plurality of heaters, each disposed in the fuel-supply line at an upstream side of corresponding one of the plurality of expanders, for heating the high-pressure fuel gas flowing into the corresponding expander.
19. A plant, comprising: a fuel supply line for supplying high-pressure fuel gas; and at least one expander disposed in the fuel supply line and configured to extract power from the high-pressure fuel gas by expanding the high-pressure fuel gas; at least one heater, disposed in the fuel-supply line at an upstream side of an expander of the at least one expander, for heating the high-pressure fuel gas flowing into the expander; a CO.sub.2 rich gas line through which CO.sub.2 rich gas flows; and at least one compressor, disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line, for pressurizing the CO.sub.2 rich gas, wherein the at least one heater is configured to heat the high-pressure fuel gas by using waste heat of the at least one compressor, wherein the at least one expander includes a plurality of expanders disposed so as to be arranged in a flow direction of the high-pressure fuel gas, wherein the at least one heater includes a plurality of heaters, each disposed in the fuel-supply line at an upstream side of corresponding one of the plurality of expanders, for heating the high-pressure fuel gas flowing into the corresponding expander, wherein the at least one compressor includes a plurality of compressors disposed in series in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line, and wherein each of the at least one heater is configured to heat the high-pressure fuel gas through heat exchange with the CO.sub.2 rich gas flowing between a pair of adjacent compressors among the plurality of compressors.
20. A plant, comprising: a fuel supply line for supplying high-pressure fuel gas; and at least one expander disposed in the fuel supply line and configured to extract power from the high-pressure fuel gas by expanding the high-pressure fuel gas; a heater, disposed in the fuel-supply line at an upstream side of an expander of the at least one expander, for heating the high-pressure fuel gas flowing into the expander; a CO.sub.2 rich gas line through which CO.sub.2 rich gas flows; and at least one compressor, disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line, for pressurizing the CO.sub.2 rich gas, wherein the heater is configured to heat the high-pressure fuel gas by using waste heat of the at least one compressor, wherein the at least one compressor includes a plurality of compressors disposed in series in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line, and wherein the heater is configured to heat the high-pressure fuel gas through heat exchange with the CO.sub.2 rich gas flowing between a pair of adjacent compressors among the plurality of compressors, wherein the at least one compressor includes: a plurality of upstream compressors disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line with the heater interposed between a pair of adjacent compressors; and at least one downstream compressor disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line at a downstream side of the upstream compressors, and wherein the plant further comprises a heat exchanger disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line between the downstream compressor and a most downstream compressor of the plurality of upstream compressors, or between a pair of the downstream compressors, the heat exchanger being configured to cool the CO.sub.2 rich gas by using a cooling medium other than the high-pressure fuel gas.
21. The plant according to claim 17, further comprising: a CO.sub.2 separation device, disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line at a downstream side of the at least one compressor, for separating CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 rich gas pressurized by the at least one compressor.
22. The plant according to claim 17, wherein the at least one compressor is configured to be driven by using the power extracted by the at least one expander.
23. The plant according to claim 20, wherein the at least one expander includes a plurality of expanders disposed so as to be arranged in a flow direction of the high-pressure fuel gas, and wherein the plant comprises a plurality of heaters, each disposed in the fuel-supply line at an upstream side of corresponding one of the plurality of expanders, for heating the high-pressure fuel gas flowing into the corresponding expander.
24. The plant according to claim 19, further comprising: a CO.sub.2 separation device, disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line at a downstream side of the at least one compressor, for separating CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 rich gas pressurized by the at least one compressor.
25. The plant according to claim 20, further comprising: a CO.sub.2 separation device, disposed in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line at a downstream side of the at least one compressor, for separating CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 rich gas pressurized by the at least one compressor.
26. The plant according to claim 19, wherein the at least one compressor is configured to be driven by using the power extracted by the at least one expander.
27. The plant according to claim 20, wherein the at least one compressor is configured to be driven by using the power extracted by the at least one expander.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is intended, however, that unless particularly identified, dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions and the like of components described in the embodiments shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
[0057]
[0058] In
[0059] The high-pressure fuel gas is a fuel gas having a higher pressure than normal pressure, and may have a pressure of approximately 1 MPa to 20 MPa at the inlet of the expander 4 (in a case where the at least one expander 4 includes a plurality of expanders 4, the inlet of the most upstream expander 4). For instance, the fuel gas may be a natural gas, or a syngas containing CO or Hz, for instance, obtained by processing coal or biomass in a gasifier.
[0060] For instance, in an illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0061] Further, for instance, in an illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0062] Further, the gasification furnace 20 may be supplied with air for combusting coal or biomass, for instance. The air may be supplied to the gasification furnace 20 after being compressed by the compressor 16, as depicted in
[0063] The expander 4 may be a turbine (rotary-type expander) configured to extract expansion work of a gas as rotational motion, or a reciprocation-type expander configured to extract expansion work of a gas as reciprocal motion.
[0064] Further, in the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0065] Further, as depicted in
[0066] Fuel gas from which power has been extracted by the expander 4 and whose pressure has decreased is discharged from the expander 4, and then is supplied to a device or the like that uses the fuel gas via the downstream fuel supply line 2b. The pressure of fuel gas at the outlet of the expander 4 (in a case where the at least one expander 4 includes a plurality of expanders 4, the outlet of the most downstream expander 4) may be, for instance, a pressure of approximately 5% to 30% of the pressure of the fuel gas at the inlet of the expander 4 (high-pressure fuel gas), for instance. Alternatively, the pressure of fuel gas at the outlet of the expander 4 may be approximately 0.2 MPa to 1.5 MPa, for instance.
[0067] The fuel gas may be supplied to a fuel cell (various fuel cells such as MCFC, SOFC, PEFC, PAFC, etc.), a boiler, or a micro gas turbine or the like as a fuel, or, may be supplied to houses or various facilities as city gas.
[0068] As described above, in the plant 1 according to some embodiments, by using the expander 4 disposed in the fuel supply line 2 to effectively use the pressure of the high-pressure fuel gas and extract the pressure as power, it is possible to improve the output and the efficiency of the plant as a whole.
[0069] In some embodiments, the plant 1 includes a heater 22 disposed in the fuel supply line 2 at the upstream side of one of the at least one expander 4. The heater 22 is configured to heat high-pressure fuel gas that flows into the above expander 4 (i.e. the expander 4 positioned downstream of the heater 22 in the fuel supply line 2).
[0070] For instance, in an illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0071] Further, for instance, in the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0072] As described above, by providing the heater 22 at the upstream side of the expander 4, it is possible to extract more power at the expander 4. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the output and the efficiency of the plant as a whole even further.
[0073] Furthermore, as depicted in
[0074] In some embodiments, as depicted in
[0075] In
[0076] The compressor (26A, 26B) may be driven by an electric motor 28 connected via a rotational shaft 27.
[0077] In the illustrative embodiments depicted in
[0078] CO.sub.2 rich gas that flows through the CO.sub.2 rich gas line may be a gas that has a higher CO.sub.2 concentration than high-pressure fuel gas that flows through the fuel supply line 2.
[0079] Alternatively, CO.sub.2 rich gas that flows through the CO.sub.2 rich gas line 24 may be CO.sub.2 rich gas that is generated during the process of recovering CO.sub.2 from exhaust gas containing CO.sub.2 discharged from an exhaust gas generation facility. In this case, the CO.sub.2 rich gas may be a gas that has a higher CO.sub.2 concentration than the exhaust gas to be processed.
[0080] For instance, in the illustrative embodiments depicted in
[0081] By pressurizing the CO.sub.2 rich gas with the compressor (26A, 26B) as described above, it is possible to use pressurized CO.sub.2 rich gas in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or seal and fix CO.sub.2 in the rock ground or under the sea. Further, by heating high-pressure fuel gas at the heater 22 by utilizing waste heat of the compressor 26 (26A, 26B) for pressurizing CO.sub.2 rich gas, it is possible to recover more power at the expander 4, and improve the output and efficiency of the plant as a whole even further.
[0082] In some embodiments, for instance, as depicted in
[0083] As described above, by heating high-pressure fuel gas through heat exchange with CO.sub.2 rich gas which flows between a pair of compressors 26A, it is possible to recover waste heat of the compressor 26A to the high-pressure fuel gas and extract more power at the expander 4. Furthermore, CO.sub.2 rich gas that is cooled through heat exchange with the high-pressure fuel gas at the heater 22 flows into the compressor 26A positioned downstream of the heater 22 in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line, and thus the heater 22 functions as an intermediate cooler of the compressor 26A, which makes it possible to cut power required to operate the compressor 26A.
[0084] In some embodiments, as depicted in
[0085] Further, in an illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0086] In some embodiments, the plant 1 includes a boiler (not depicted) for generating steam, and the heat exchanger 34 may be configured such that water supplied to the boiler for generating steam is guided to the heat exchanger 34 via a cooling medium line 32 as a cooling medium.
[0087] Further, the above described boiler may be a waste-heat recovery boiler (HRSG) for recovering heat of waste gas from the gas turbine.
[0088] The CO.sub.2 rich gas tends to have a greater isobaric specific heat Cp near the critical pressure of CO.sub.2 (approximately 7.4 MPa). Thus, when cooling CO.sub.2 rich gas having a pressure level equivalent to the critical pressure through heat exchange with the high-pressure fuel gas, it is difficult to ensure balance between the temperature decrease amount of CO.sub.2 rich gas and the temperature increase amount of high-pressure fuel gas.
[0089] In this regard, as described above, by cooling CO.sub.2 rich gas pressurized by the compressor 26A (upstream compressor) through heat exchange with a cooling medium other than high-pressure fuel gas, it is possible to cool inlet gas of the compressor 26B (downstream compressor) appropriately, and reduce compression power at the compressor 26B (downstream compressor).
[0090] In some embodiments, the pressure of CO.sub.2 rich gas flowing through the heat exchanger 34 for exchanging heat between CO.sub.2 rich gas and a cooling medium other than the high-pressure fuel gas may be equal to or higher than 90% of the critical pressure of CO.sub.2.
[0091] In this case, by cooling CO.sub.2 rich gas having a pressure close to the critical pressure through heat exchange with a cooling medium other than high-pressure fuel gas, it is possible to cool inlet gas of the compressor 26B (downstream compressor) having a comparatively high isobaric specific heat Cp effectively, and reduce compression power at the compressor 26B (downstream compressor).
[0092] Although not depicted, the heater 22 and/or heat exchanger 34 may be configured to be capable of separating drain water generated from condensation of moisture contained in CO.sub.2 rich gas. In this way, it is possible to suppress damage due to erosion or the like of the compressor (26A, 26B) that compresses CO.sub.2 rich gas.
[0093] In some embodiments, at least one compressor (26A, 26B) may be configured to be driven by using power extracted by the at least one expander 4.
[0094] As described above, by driving the compressor (26A, 26B) by using power recovered from high-pressure fuel gas using the expander 4, it is possible to improve the energy efficiency of the plant as a whole.
[0095] For instance, in an embodiment, the rotational shaft 27 (see
[0096] In this case, the amount of power for driving the compressor (26A, 26B) may be, for instance, adjusted by a generator 6 coupled to the rotational shaft 5 of the expander 4, or an electric motor 28 connected to the rotational shaft 27 of the compressor (26A, 26B).
[0097] Further, for instance, in an embodiment, the electric motor 28 coupled to the rotational shaft 27 of the compressor (26A, 26B) may be driven by electric power generated by the generator 6 coupled to the rotational shaft 5 of the expander 4.
[0098] In this case, the electric motor 28 and the generator 6 may be connected to each other via an electric cable (not depicted), and the electric motor 28 and the generator 6 may be connected to a utility grid via the electric cable. Further, the amount of electric power for driving the compressor (26A, 26B) may be adjusted through power supply to the utility grid and power input from the utility grid.
[0099] In
[0100] For instance, the plurality of expanders 4 and/or the plurality of compressors (26A, 12B) may have respective rotational shafts connected via a power transmission mechanism such as a gear. Furthermore, a generator and/or an electric motor corresponding to each of the plurality of expanders 4 and/or the plurality of compressors (26A, 12B) may be provided, and each electric motor may drive the plurality of compressors (26A, 26B). The above electric motors may be supplied with electric power generated by a generator driven by the expander 4.
[0101] In some embodiments, as depicted in
[0102] By separating CO.sub.2 from CO.sub.2 rich gas using the CO.sub.2 separation device 40, it is possible to obtain CO.sub.2 with a high purity. Further, in a case where the CO.sub.2 rich gas contains combustible gas (e.g. H2 or CO) as an impurity substance, it is possible to utilize the impurity gas obtained by the CO.sub.2 separation device 40 as a fuel, which may contribute to improvement of the energy efficiency of a plant as a whole.
[0103] Herein,
[0104] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0105] In some embodiments, as depicted in
[0106] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0107] At the CO.sub.2 separation device 40, CO.sub.2 having been separated from the CO.sub.2 rich gas and permeated the CO.sub.2 separation membrane 42 is discharged from the CO.sub.2 separation device 40 via the CO.sub.2 recovery line 24c, and the remaining impurity gas that does not permeate the CO.sub.2 separation membrane 42 is discharged from the CO.sub.2 separation device 40 via the discharge line 30.
[0108] Further, in some embodiments, as depicted in
[0109] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0110] A pump 49 for pressurizing the liquefied CO.sub.2 may be disposed in the CO.sub.2 recovery line 24c. By pressurizing the liquefied CO.sub.2 with the pump 49, it is possible to obtain CO.sub.2 having a high purity and a high pressure.
[0111] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0112] As depicted in
[0113] In some embodiments, the CO.sub.2 liquefaction/solidification device 44 may be configured to cool the CO.sub.2 rich gas to liquefy a part of CO.sub.2 contained in the CO.sub.2 rich gas and solidify another part of CO.sub.2. In this case, the liquefied CO.sub.2 and the solidified CO.sub.2 may be recovered through different recovery lines.
[0114] The plant 1 (e.g. see
[0115] The plant 1 depicted in
[0116] The configuration of the plant 1 depicted in
[0117] The plant 1 depicted in
[0118] The thermal power generation device 102 is a device that generates power by using combustion gas or combustion heat generated by combustion of fuel. For instance, the thermal power generation device 102 may be a power generation device including a boiler or a gas turbine, or a power generation device such as a gas turbine combined cycle power generation device (GTCC) or an integrated coal gasification combined cycle power generation device (IGCC), for instance. In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0119] The carbon dioxide recovery system 103 is configured to recover CO.sub.2 contained in exhaust gas that contains gas generated from combustion in the thermal power generation device 102. For instance, in a case where the thermal power generation device 102 includes a boiler or a gas turbine including a combustor, the carbon dioxide recovery system 103 may be configured to recover CO.sub.2 contained in exhaust gas from the boiler or the gas turbine. Alternatively, in a case where the thermal power generation device 102 includes a waste-heat recovery boiler (heat recovery steam generator; HRSG) for recovering heat of exhaust gas from the gas turbine or the like, the carbon dioxide recovery system 103 may be configured to recover CO.sub.2 contained in exhaust gas from the waste-heat recovery boiler.
[0120] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0121] The gas turbine 200 depicted in
[0122] The combustor 204 is supplied with fuel (e.g. natural gas) from a fuel storage part 122. Further, air compressed by the compressor 202 is sent into the combustor 204, and the compressed air has a function of an oxidizing agent in combustion of fuel at the combustor 204.
[0123] A generator 208 is coupled to the turbine 206 via a rotational shaft 203. The generator 208 is driven by rotational energy of the turbine 206, and thereby electric power is generated. The combustion gas having worked at the turbine 206 is discharged from the turbine 206 as exhaust gas.
[0124] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0125] In the present specification, the CO.sub.2 rich gas derived from the outlet gas of the anode may be the anode outlet gas itself, or gas after performing a predetermined treatment on the anode outlet gas (e.g. CO shift reaction in a CO shift reactor 120 described below, or membrane separation at the gas separation unit 136). Further, the CO.sub.2 rich gas refers to a gas having a higher CO.sub.2 concentration than exhaust gas to be processed.
[0126] As described above, the fuel cell 110 includes an anode (fuel pole) 116, a cathode (air pole) 112, and an electrolyte 114. The cathode 112 is supplied with exhaust gas (exhaust gas containing CO.sub.2) from the thermal power generation device 102. Furthermore, fuel gas containing hydrogen (H.sub.2) is supplied to the anode 116. The electrolyte 114 is configured to transfer carbonate ion (CO.sub.3.sup.2−) derived from CO.sub.2 contained in exhaust gas from the cathode 112 to the anode 116.
[0127] The fuel cell 110 may be a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) using carbonate as the electrolyte 114. The carbonate used as the electrolyte 114 may be lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, or combination of the above.
[0128] The cathode 112 is supplied with exhaust gas containing CO.sub.2 from the thermal power generation device 102 via the cathode inlet flow passage 170.
[0129] A fuel storage part 122 storing a fuel (e.g. natural gas) is connected to the anode 116 via an anode inlet flow passage 176 and the fuel supply line 2. The fuel inside the fuel storage part 122 is reformed into hydrogen (H.sub.2) in a pre-reformer 124 disposed in the fuel supply line 2 or the reforming part 118 disposed in the fuel cell 110, for instance, and is supplied to the anode 116 via the anode inlet flow passage 176.
[0130] At the cathode 112 of the fuel cell 110, CO.sub.2 and oxygen (O.sub.2) contained in exhaust gas from the thermal power generation device 102 reacts with electrons and thereby carbonate ion (CO.sub.3.sup.2−) is produced. The carbonate ion produced at the cathode 112 transfers through the electrolyte 114 toward the anode 116.
[0131] On the other hand, at the anode 116 of the fuel cell 110, the hydrogen (H.sub.2) supplied via the anode inlet flow passage 176 reacts with carbonate ion (CO.sub.3.sup.2−) that has transferred through the electrolyte 114, and thereby water (H.sub.2O), CO.sub.2, and electrons are produced. As described above, CO.sub.2 supplied to the cathode 112 transfers through the electrolyte 114 in the form of cathode ion from the cathode 112 to the anode 116, and becomes CO.sub.2 after reaction at the anode 116.
[0132] CO.sub.2 generated at the anode 116 flows out to the CO.sub.2 rich gas line (anode outlet flow passage) 24 as gas mixture (outlet gas of the anode 116) with H.sub.2O and non-combusted components of the fuel gas (e.g. CO and H.sub.2). The anode outlet gas that flows out to the CO.sub.2 rich gas line 24 is a CO.sub.2 rich gas having a higher CO.sub.2 concentration than exhaust gas to be processed.
[0133] CO.sub.2 contained in the CO.sub.2 rich gas discharged from the anode 116 is recovered via the CO.sub.2 rich gas line 24. Further, the recovered CO.sub.2 (i.e. CO.sub.2 recovered to the side of the anode 116 by the fuel cell 110) may be compressed by the compressor 109 (see
[0134] Meanwhile, the reforming reaction of the fuel is an endothermic reaction, and it is normally necessary to add heat from outside. Thus, as depicted in
[0135] Further, in the embodiment depicted in
[0136] The molten carbonate fuel cell operates at a high temperature of approximately 600 to 700° C., and gas that flows out from the anode 116 has a high temperature of the same level. Thus, with the above described heat exchanger 126, it is possible to cause the reforming reaction of the fuel while effectively utilizing the reaction heat generated at the fuel cell 110.
[0137] Further, in the embodiment depicted in
[0138] Furthermore, for appropriate operation of the fuel cell 110, the temperature of supplied gas should have a high temperature of a certain level in some cases. In such a case, by combusting fuel at the combustor 119 and increasing the temperature of exhaust gas at the inlet side of the cathode 112 with combustion heat, the fuel cell 110 can be operated appropriately.
[0139] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0140] By denaturing CO with the CO shift reactor 120, it is possible to increase the CO.sub.2 concentration in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line 24 downstream of the CO shift reactor 120 compared to that upstream of the CO shift reactor 120. Accordingly, it is possible to recover purer carbon dioxide.
[0141] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0142] The gas separation unit 136 may be configured to separate CO.sub.2 from CO.sub.2 rich gas supplied to the gas separation unit 136. By separating CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 rich gas with the gas separation unit 136, it is possible to increase the CO.sub.2 concentration in the CO.sub.2 rich gas line 24 downstream of the gas separation unit 136 compared to that upstream of the gas separation unit 136. Accordingly, it is possible to recover purer carbon dioxide.
[0143] The gas separation unit 136 may include a separation membrane configured to separate CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 rich gas. Alternatively, the gas separation unit 136 may be configured to separate CO.sub.2 from CO.sub.2 rich gas by the cryogenic distillation method.
[0144] Furthermore, as depicted in
[0145] In the embodiment depicted in
[0146] In some embodiments, as depicted in
[0147] The waste-heat recovery boiler 140 depicted in
[0148] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0149] In the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0150] That is, in the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0151] As depicted in
[0152] At the chemical absorption tower 130 according to an embodiment, an absorption liquid (e.g. absorption liquid containing amine) makes contact with exhaust gas guided to the chemical absorption tower 130, and thereby CO.sub.2 contained in exhaust gas is absorbed by the absorption liquid. Accordingly, CO.sub.2 is removed from exhaust gas. The exhaust gas deprived of CO.sub.2 is discharged from the outlet 130a of the chemical absorption tower 130 as processed exhaust gas.
[0153] The absorption liquid having absorbed CO.sub.2 is sent to the regeneration tower 132 from the chemical absorption tower 130, and is regenerated at the regeneration tower 132. At the regeneration tower 132, the absorption liquid having absorbed CO.sub.2 is heated by steam, and thereby CO.sub.2 is separated and removed from the absorption liquid (that is, the absorption liquid is regenerated).
[0154] The gas containing CO.sub.2 removed from the absorption liquid is discharged from the regeneration tower 132 and deprived of moisture at a gas-liquid separator (not depicted), and then CO.sub.2 is recovered as a gas.
[0155] On the other hand, the absorption liquid regenerated after removal of CO.sub.2 at the regeneration tower 132 is returned to the chemical absorption tower 130, and is used again to absorb CO.sub.2 contained in exhaust gas from the thermal power generation device 102.
[0156] In the embodiment depicted in
[0157] Furthermore, in the embodiment depicted in
[0158] Further, in the embodiment depicted in
[0159] In the embodiment depicted in
[0160] Further, in the illustrative embodiment depicted in
[0161] As depicted in
[0162] Further, as depicted in
[0163] Embodiments of the present invention were described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various amendments and modifications may be implemented.
[0164] Further, in the present specification, an expression of relative or absolute arrangement such as “in a direction”, “along a direction”, “parallel”, “orthogonal”, “centered”, “concentric” and “coaxial” shall not be construed as indicating only the arrangement in a strict literal sense, but also includes a state where the arrangement is relatively displaced by a tolerance, or by an angle or a distance whereby it is possible to achieve the same function.
[0165] For instance, an expression of an equal state such as “same” “equal” and “uniform” shall not be construed as indicating only the state in which the feature is strictly equal, but also includes a state in which there is a tolerance or a difference that can still achieve the same function.
[0166] Further, for instance, an expression of a shape such as a rectangular shape or a cylindrical shape shall not be construed as only the geometrically strict shape, but also includes a shape with unevenness or chamfered corners within the range in which the same effect can be achieved.
[0167] On the other hand, an expression such as “comprise”, “include”, “have” and “contain” are not intended to be exclusive of other components.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0168] 1 Plant [0169] 2 Fuel supply line [0170] 2a Upstream fuel supply line [0171] 2b Downstream fuel supply line [0172] 4 Expander [0173] 5 Rotational shaft [0174] 6 Generator [0175] 10 Fuel tank [0176] 12 Pump [0177] 14 Heat exchanger [0178] 16 Compressor [0179] 20 Gasification furnace [0180] 22 Heater [0181] 24 CO.sub.2 rich gas line [0182] 24a Upstream CO.sub.2 rich gas line [0183] 24b Downstream CO.sub.2 rich gas line [0184] 26A, 26A′ Compressor [0185] 26B Compressor [0186] 27 Rotational shaft [0187] 28 Electric motor [0188] 30 Discharge line [0189] 30 Cooling medium line [0190] 32 Heat exchanger [0191] 34 Solidifier [0192] 44 Freezer [0193] 49 Pump [0194] 50 Gasifier [0195] 50a First chamber [0196] 50b Second chamber [0197] 52 Lid part [0198] 54 Lid part [0199] 56 Heat source [0200] 102 Thermal power generation device [0201] 103 Carbon dioxide recovery system [0202] 109 Compressor [0203] 110 Fuel cell [0204] 112 Cathode [0205] 114 Electrolyte [0206] 116 Anode [0207] 118 Reforming part [0208] 119 Combustor [0209] 120 CO shift reactor [0210] 122 Fuel storage part [0211] 124 Pre-reforming part [0212] 126 Heat exchanger [0213] 130 Chemical absorption tower [0214] 130a Outlet [0215] 132 Regeneration tower [0216] 134 Compressor [0217] 136 Gas separation unit [0218] 140 Waste-heat recovery boiler [0219] 142 Steam turbine [0220] 144 Generator [0221] 146 Stack [0222] 170 Cathode inlet side flow passage [0223] 172 Cathode outlet side flow passage [0224] 176 Anode inlet side flow passage [0225] 178 Bypass flow passage [0226] 200 Gas turbine [0227] 202 Compressor [0228] 203 Rotational shaft [0229] 204 Combustor [0230] 206 Turbine [0231] 208 Generator