Exergetic Analysis of a Natural Gas Combined-Cycle Power Plant with a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell for Carbon Capture

Alberto Fichera, Samiran Samanta and Rosaria Volpe
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Alberto Fichera: Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 25, 95125 Catania, Italy
Samiran Samanta: School of Mechanical Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
Rosaria Volpe: Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 25, 95125 Catania, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: This study aims to propose the repowering of an existing Italian natural-gas fired combined cycle power plant through the integration of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) downstream of the gas turbine for CO 2 capture and to pursuit an exergetic analysis of the two schemes. The flue gases of the turbine are used to feed the cathode of the MCFC, where CO 2 is captured and transported to the anode while generating electric power. The retrofitted plant produces 787.454 MW, in particular, 435.29 MW from the gas turbine, 248.9 MW from the steam cycle, and 135.283 MW from the MCFC. Around 42.4% of the exergy destruction has been obtained, the majority belonging to the combustion chamber and, in minor percentages, to the gas turbine and the MCFC. The overall net plant efficiency and net exergy efficiency are estimated to be around 55.34 and 53.34%, respectively. Finally, the specific CO 2 emission is around 66.67 kg/MWh, with around 2 million tons of carbon dioxide sequestrated.

Keywords: molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC); power plant; carbon capture; repowering; combined cycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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