Praxair will work with Fundacion Ciudad de la Energia (CIUDEN), a Spanish government agency, to develop a pilot facility incorporating advanced technologies for carbon dioxide abatement and capture from coal-fired electricity generating plants.To be located in El Bierzo, in northern Spain, the initial phase of project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2009. It will conduct tests using anthracite coal and petroleum coke fuels in both pulverized-coal and circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers under a wide range of operating conditions and with different degrees of oxy-coal combustion.
Biomass fuel may be tested at a later stage.
In oxy-coal combustion technology, pure oxygen instead of air is introduced to the boiler, creating a highly concentrated stream of carbon dioxide, which is more economical to capture. Praxair will provide the upstream oxygen supply facilities; the oxygen mixing and injection technology; the downstream carbon dioxide capture and gas-processing technologies and equipment; and the overall control systems integration for the power systems.
"By bringing together government, industry and research institutions, we hope to identify the best combination of engineering, design and equipment to achieve both environmental and economic goals in the reduction of greenhouse gases in power generation," said Prof. Dr. Vicente J. Cortes Galeano, program manager for CIUDEN.
Charles McConnell, Praxair's vice president for gasification and oxy-coal technology, said, "Praxair is well positioned to be a strong partner in clean-coal projects. We bring proven engineering and design capabilities, gas-processing and systems expertise, and global experience in the capture and purification of carbon dioxide. This project will help us develop the most cost-effective and efficient routes to carbon dioxide capture in power-generation applications."
