Abstract

Oxy-combustion is a process which removes nitrogen from air prior to combustion in order to produce a high concentration of CO2 in the exhaust. This enables CO2 liquefaction, transport, and storage to greatly reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Atmospheric oxy-coal combustion has been successfully demonstrated at industrial scales and could be retrofit in existing coal boilers, but thermodynamic efficiencies are low and therefore uneconomical. Pressurized oxy-coal combustion has the potential for higher efficiency and lower cost but requires new technologies related to the coal feed system, the burner, and ash management. This project describes work needed to complete the dry feed pressurized oxy-coal combustor (POC) at BYU. The POC required the software control system (OPTO22) to be completed, a reactor shakedown, and testing of a previously designed burner by recording reactor thermocouple, exhaust concentration, and radiometer measurements. The following has been successfully demonstrated: 1) reactor heat-up with natural gas 2) coal combustion within temperature limits of the reactor 3) slagging that allows ash management.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Mechanical Engineering

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/