This paper presents a detailed description and thermodynamic analysis of a novel process generating electric energy and hydrogen, i. e. two important energy products for the future. Coal and high-temperature heat are used as input energy to the process. The process is a true “zero emission process” because (a) no NOX is formed during coal combustion with sulfuric acid, and (b) the combustion products SO2 and CO2 are removed as compressed liquids from the overall process. The commercial process simulator Aspen Plus was used for the thermodynamic modeling of this process. Detailed results of the simulation are presented. The overall process is characterized by very high energetic and exergetic efficiencies in comparison with other energy conversion systems in which electric power or hydrogen are generated using the same energy inputs. The influence of important process parameters, e.g. the concentration of the sulfuric acid solution on the overall efficiency is discussed. The evaluation of the thermodynamic performance of the process, which is based on a detailed exergetic analysis, represents the first step in a comprehensive evaluation of this concept to be conducted in the future.

Volume Subject Area:
Advanced Energy Systems
Topics:
Carbon capture and storage, Electricity (Physics), Hydrogen, Coal, Combustion, Carbon dioxide, Emissions, Energy conversion, Heat, High temperature, Modeling, Nitrogen oxides, Simulation
1.
Tsatsaronis, G., 1999. “Strengths and Limitations of Exergy Analysis.” In Thermodynamic Optimization of Complex Energy Systems, A. Bejan and E. Mamut, eds., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp. 93–100.
2.
Knoche
K. F.
,
Tsatsaronis
G.
, and
Spindler
K.
,
1983
. “
HECAP: A New Process for the Production of Hydrogen and Electric Power
” (in German),
Brennstoff-Wa¨rme-Kraft
,
36
(
11
), pp.
530
–
534
.
3.
Spindler, K., 1984. “Energy Conversion Processes with Sulfuric Acid used as Coal Oxidizer” (in German). PhD Thesis, Technical University of Aachen, Germany.
4.
Knoche, K.F., Tsatsaronis, G., Spindler, K., and Pru¨mm, B., 1984. “Energy Conversion Process with Coal and Sulphuric Acid.” In Proceedings of the 5th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Vol. 3, Hydrogen Energy Progress V, Canada, pp. 1135–1142.
5.
Tsatsaronis
G.
, and
Spindler
K.
,
1984
. “
Thermodynamic Analysis of a New Process for the Hydrogen and Electric Power Production by Using Carbonaceous Fuels and High-Temperature Process Heat
,”
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
,
9
(
7
), pp.
595
–
601
.
6.
Brecher
L. E.
,
Spewock
S.
,
Warde
C. J.
,
1977
. “
The Westinghouse Sulfur Cycle for the Thermochemical Decomposition of Water
,”
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
,
2
(
1
), pp.
7
–
15
.
7.
Schepers, H., 1983. “Thermodynamic Analysis of Sulfuric Acid Cycles for Water Splitting” (in German). PhD Thesis, Technical University of Aachen, Germany.
8.
Lahoda, E.J., Goossen, J.E., Matzie, R.A., Mazzoccoli, J.P., 2004. “Optimization of the Westinghouse Sulfur Process for Hydrogen Generation and the Interface with an HTGR.” In Proceedings of ICONE12, 12th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, April 2004, Arlington, Virginia USA, ICONE12-49031.
9.
Lahoda, E.J., 2005. “Research Opportunities for Improving the Westinghouse Sulfur Process (Hybrid Sulfur Process-HyS).” MIT Symposium on The Next Generation Nuclear Plant Goals and Challenges, February 23–24, 2005.
10.
Aspen Plus 11.1, 2001. See also: http://www.aspentech.com.
11.
Aspen Plus 11.1, 2001. Aspen Physical Property System - Physical Property Methods and Models 11.1. Manual of the Aspen Tech’s software, 2001.
12.
Tsatsaronis, G. and Cziesla, F., 2002. Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, 3rd edition, Vol. 16. Academic Press, ch. Thermoeconomics, pp. 659–680.
13.
Diedrichsen, C., 1991. Reference Environments for the Calculation of Chemical Exergy (in German). VDI Verlag, Du¨sseldorf, Number 50 in Fortschr.-Ber. VDI, Reihe 19.
14.
Pru¨mm, B., 1986. “Contribution to the Oxidation of Coal with Sulfuric Acid” (in German). PhD Thesis, Technical University of Aachen, Germany.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 2005
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.