Clean coal technologies

TLDR

Coal remains the dominant power source in Europe and beyond, with existing pulverized‑fuel plants using ultrasupercritical steam cycles that are highly efficient and low in SOx and NOx, yet coal use is expected to rise as other fossil fuels become costlier. The paper examines coal‑based power generation options and compares their technical, environmental, and economic performance. The study evaluates options such as atmospheric and pressurized fluidized bed combustion, integrated gasification combined cycles, pressurized pulverized combustion, dual‑fuel hybrids, fuel cells, and magnetohydrodynamics. Integrated gasification combined cycles achieve high efficiency and low emissions, though further optimization is needed to render them economically competitive.

Abstract

Power generation in Europe and elsewhere relies heavily on coal as the source of energy and this reliance will increase in the future as other fossil fuels become progressively more expensive. The existing stock of coal-fired power stations mainly use pulverized fuel boilers and present designs based on ultrasupercritical steam cycles are as efficient and as low in SO x and NO x emissions as is possible without incurring excessive additional costs. This paper examines the options for coal-based power generation technologies and compares their technical, environmental and economic performance. These options include atmospheric and pressurized fluidized bed combustion and a range of integrated gasification combined cycle systems. Integrated gasification combined cycles give good efficiency and very low emissions, but further optimization is required to make them economically attractive. Conceptual cycles based on pressurized pulverized combustion, dual fuel hybrid cycles, fuel cells and magnetohydrodynamics are also covered in outline.