Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an IGCC power plant, wherein the coal gas from a gasifier, comprising CO and hydrogen, is supplied to at least one shift stage, wherein this is converted primarily into CO2 and hydrogen and the coal gas is subjected to at least one gas cleaning step. The coal gas is conducted over a membrane, which at least partially selectively separates the hydrogen from the coal gas. In order to achieve driving potential in the membrane, a flushing gas is used on the permeate side. The hydrogen depleted retentate is fed to a CO2 conditioning process, while the separated hydrogen is fed together with the flushing gas to a gas turbine as fuel gas. The flushing gas used for the membrane is a component of the waste gas produced in the gas turbine after the waste gas has left the waste heat recovery boiler, which is connected downstream of the gas turbine. In the power plant, the gas turbine also functions as a means for providing the flushing gas.

Abstract: A method for generating heat energy in a power plant by burning a carbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber of the power plant and a system for carrying out the method is described. A combustion chamber is fluidly connected to a membrane chamber that includes a membrane operating at a temperature between 600 and 1000° C. The combustion chamber receives a cleaned flue-gas oxygen mixture for combustion from the membrane chamber. Oxygen from heated air passes through the membrane in the membrane chamber to the permeate side of the membrane, where it is mixed with cleaned heated flue gas and the resulting gas mixture is fed to the combustion chamber. Flue gas removed from the combustion chamber are cooled, cleaned and heated as described herein and recirculated to the membrane chamber.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is separated from a flue gas produced in a combustion plant. Flue gas is supplied to a membrane unit having at least one membrane module provided with a membrane that is selective for CO2. A portion of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas in the module, producing a CO2-enriched permeate. CO2-depleted flue gas remaining on the retentate side of the module is supplied to at least one additional CO2 separating unit and a portion of the CO2 in the retentate is separated by an absorbent. The result is a reduction in energy consumption.

Abstract: Provided is a power plant for generating electrical energy comprising a combustion chamber for producing steam, at least one downstream flue gas purification stage, a separation stage for CO2, a recycling circuit for the flue gas, and a high-temperature O2 membrane, which is connected upstream of the combustion chamber. The high-temperature O2 membrane has an inlet and an outlet on the feed side which are thermally coupled by way of a heat exchanger. On the permeate side, the high-temperature O2 membrane has only an outlet which is connected to the combustion chamber and/or the flue gas recycling circuit and a means for cooling and/or compression which is disposed in this outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for separating carbon dioxide from a flue gas from energy conversion, wherein the flue gas is first supplied to a membrane unit, comprising at least one membrane module having a CO2-selective membrane, with a portion of the CO2 being separated in the module from the flue gas as an enriched CO2 permeate. The flue gas thus depleted (retentate) is subsequently supplied to at least one additional CO2 separating unit, in which a portion of the CO2 is separated from the flue gas by an adsorbent or absorbent. Also disclosed is a device that is suitable for carrying out the aforementioned methods for separating CO2 from a flue gas using a membrane unit, comprising at least one membrane module having a CO2-selective membrane and having an additional CO2 separating unit, comprising an adsorbent or absorbent.

Abstract: A combustion system comprising a burner and a combustion chamber, is connected by way of a line to a membrane unit having a high-temperature membrane for extracting the combustion oxygen from the air, the membrane unit having a feed line for a flushing gas on the permeate side. The combustion system further comprises a circulation element for recirculated flue gas, a heat exchanger being disposed upstream of the membrane unit inside the flue gas line. Disclosed is a method for operating this combustion system, in which carbon-containing fuel is burned in an oxygen-flue gas atmosphere, and in which the oxygen for combustion is produced from air by means of a membrane unit comprising a high-temperature membrane, and in which the flue gas is in part recirculated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an IGCC power plant, wherein the coal gas from a gasifier, comprising CO and hydrogen, is supplied to at least one shift stage, wherein this is converted primarily into CO2 and hydrogen and the coal gas is subjected to at least one gas cleaning step. The coal gas is conducted over a membrane, which at least partially selectively separates the hydrogen from the coal gas. In order to achieve driving potential in the membrane, a flushing gas is used on the permeate side. The hydrogen depleted retentate is fed to a CO2 conditioning process, while the separated hydrogen is fed together with the flushing gas to a gas turbine as fuel gas. The flushing gas used for the membrane is a component of the waste gas produced in the gas turbine after the waste gas has left the waste heat recovery boiler, which is connected downstream of the gas turbine. In the power plant, the gas turbine also functions as a means for providing the flushing gas.

Abstract: Provided is a power plant for generating electrical energy comprising a combustion chamber for producing steam, at least one downstream flue gas purification stage, a separation stage for CO2, a recycling circuit for the flue gas, and a high-temperature O2 membrane, which is connected upstream of the combustion chamber. The high-temperature O2 membrane has an inlet and an outlet on the feed side which are thermally coupled by way of a heat exchanger. On the permeate side, the high-temperature O2 membrane has only an outlet which is connected to the combustion chamber and/or the flue gas recycling circuit and a means for cooling and/or compression which is disposed in this outlet.

Abstract: A method for separating carbon dioxide from a flue gas using a membrane (membrane module) is characterized in that the flue gas is at temperatures above the condensation point of the water vapor before entering the membrane separation stage. In this way, condensation of any potentially entrained water vapor out of the flue gas is avoided, so as to consistently prevent clogging of the membrane pores. The high temperatures can be achieved in different ways. The temperature of the flue gas can easily be increased to the necessary temperatures by way of an upstream heat exchanger or a burner. A compressor, which is connected upstream of the membrane module and also advantageously increases the CO2 partial pressure, brings about the necessary temperature increase at the same time. As a further alternative for the invention, the CO2 separation is performed even before desulfurizing the flue gas.

Abstract: In an anode structure for a high temperature fuel cell which has a non-catalytic phase and a catalytic phase with respect to methane-vapor reforming reactions, a substrate with a bi-polar plate disposed thereon has areas of different catalytic activity levels, that is, an area in which the regular catalytic metallic phase has been replaced by a catalytic metallic phase with low catalytic activity whereby the methane vapor reforming reaction is delayed in the areas of reduced catalyst activity.