Abstract: A method of operation of a thermal power plant having an air separation system with a plurality of air storage unit (ASU) compressors and a liquid oxygen/liquid air (LOX/LA) storage facility for oxyfuel firing of fossil fuel and a power plant having a control system to perform the same are described. The method is characterized by the step of controlling the net power output of the plant in response to short term variations in grid demanded net plant output by dynamically adjusting the works power of the ASU compressors preferably in conjunction with co-ordinated changes in firing demand. The method is in particular a method to produce an improved primary and secondary response to transient changes in grid demand and to provide accurate response to load dispatch ramps.

Abstract: A method of and control apparatus for operation of a boiler plant are described. The boiler plant has a furnace volume, an oxyfuel firing system for oxyfuel combustion of fuel in the furnace volume, and a compression system for compression of gases exhausted from the furnace volume after combustion. The method and control apparatus are characterized by the step of controlling mass flow of gases through the compression system as a means to control pressure within the furnace volume. This invention relates to both single and multi unit arrangements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fuel preparation for example by milling and drying to produce a pulverous fuel supply are described. The apparatus includes a fuel preparation unit adapted to receive a mixture of fuel and a gas and to prepare the fuel for combustion in a pulverous state; an output conduit defining an output flow path for a mixture of pulverous fuel and gas from the fuel preparation unit; a phase separator disposed to receive the mixture from the output conduit and to separate the mixture into a gas phase comprising at least a major part of the gas from the mixture and a fuel phase comprising the pulverous fuel; a gas phase conduit defining a flow path for the gas phase from the separator; a heat exchanger preferably being a process fluid heat exchanger such as a feed water heat recovery heat exchanger fluidly connected to the gas phase conduit and adapted to receive and dry the gas phase. The method applies the principles embodied in the apparatus.

Abstract: A comburant gas supply system is provided for a combustion boiler/turbine of a thermal power plant, a combustion boiler/turbine system and a thermal power plant. The gas supply system has an air separation module to separate and output an oxygen rich gas from an input air supply; a comburant gas storage module fluidly connected to the output of the air separation module for storage in liquid state of separated oxygen rich gas; a comburant gas supply module to supply the oxygen rich gas to the combustion boiler selectively from the air separation system and/or the comburant gas storage system. The air separation module has an oxygen rich gas output capacity determined from a demand rating for the combustion boiler/turbine adjusted with reference to a load factor across a predetermined operating period and/or the ASU size is increased to provide longer term energy storage capacity.

Abstract: A method of and control apparatus for operation of a boiler plant are described. The boiler plant has a furnace volume, an oxyfuel firing system for oxyfuel combustion of fuel in the furnace volume, and a compression system for compression of gases exhausted from the furnace volume after combustion. The method and control apparatus are characterized by the step of controlling mass flow of gases through the compression system as a means to control pressure within the furnace volume. This invention relates to both single and multi unit arrangements.

Abstract: A combustion furnace and a method of its operation are described. The furnace comprises a chamber defining a combustion volume having at least one primary inlet for fuel and combustion supporting gases and at least one primary outlet for combustion product gases, which chamber is provided with one or more additional ports, for example in fluid communication with a supply of gas for secondary gas flow, allowing for secondary gas flow into and/or out of the combustion volume.

Abstract: A method of operation of a thermal power plant having an air separation system with a plurality of air storage unit (ASU) compressors and a liquid oxygen/liquid air (LOX/LA) storage facility for oxyfuel firing of fossil fuel and a power plant having a control system to perform the same are described. The method is characterized by the step of controlling the net power output of the plant in response to short term variations in grid demanded net plant output by dynamically adjusting the works power of the ASU compressors preferably in conjunction with co-ordinated changes in firing demand. The method is in particular a method to produce an improved primary and secondary response to transient changes in grid demand and to provide accurate response to load dispatch ramps.