Zero Emission Coal, A New Approach

Hans-Joachim Ziock, EES-6

A new approach to zero emission coal-based power generation originated at
Los Alamos National Laboratory is being pursued together with ZECA
Corporation; the goal being no atmospheric emissions from coal-fueled power
and hydrogen production plants. Coal is by far our most abundant and
cheapest conventional fossil fuel, but unfortunately also the dirtiest and
most carbon intense energy source. The avoidance of atmospheric emissions
addresses carbon dioxide, in addition to the more commonly considered coal
by-products such as NOX, SOX, particulates, and heavy metals. The new
approach combines and updates a number of concepts previously tested
separately at the pilot plant scale, but in a new, highly integrated design.
The integrated approach will provide fuel to electric energy conversion
efficiencies of approximately 70%, double that of today's conventional power
plants, while simultaneously yielding a pure, high-pressure CO2 stream that
is ready for sequestration. For sequestration, we are examining the
conversion of the CO2 into mineral carbonates, thereby achieving safe and
permanent disposal of the CO2 in an inert solid form. The high efficiency
power generation step provides for a substantial reduction (~ a factor of 2)
in the amount of fuel consumed per unit of power produced, thereby reducing
the amount and cost of by-product disposal by a similar factor. Unlike most
other emission reduction processes being investigated, which typically offer
only marginal and short-term improvements, the ZECA concept is a long-term
solution capable of supplying many centuries of abundant, secure, clean, low
cost, coal-based fossil energy. As the underlying chemistry of the process
works on carbon, the zero emission coal (ZEC) technology is also adaptable to
a wide range of other fuels including biomass, heavy oils, tars, natural
gas, etc.

The P/T Colloquium is
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Refreshments are served
at 3:15 PM.