Process integration of solar thermal energy with natural gas combined cycle carbon capture

This project investigates the energy cost of CO₂ capture for NGCC (natural gas combined cycle) power plants and studies the effect of solar thermal energy on the energy penalty for such a system. The gas turbine used in this study is the ALSTOM GT26. Alongside the standard case, other cases include an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) and a pre-combustion case that utilises EGR with the capture taking place after the compression stage of the gas turbine. The solar thermal technology used in these simulations is a solar tower system capable of reaching 1000°C. The integration of the solar energy is used to provide heat to the first of the two combustion chambers in the gas turbine. Cases are optimized for 75% capture. For a NGCC it was found that using EGR decreased the specific energy penalty as well as capture energy penalty. The pre-combustion case showed a reduction in the energy penalty over the standard and EGR cases but at a reduced capture rate. The addition of solar thermal shows a reduction in the total energy penalty. This is due to a reduction in the total CO₂ produced in the system, hence a reduction in the total CO₂ captured.