(106e) Ceramic and Coal: ITM Oxygen for Power Generation with Reduced CO2-Emissions

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, an Air Products-led team is developing a new air separation technology - Ion Transport Membrane Oxygen - based on ceramic membranes that selectively transport oxygen ions when operated at high temperature. Under the influence of an oxygen partial-pressure driving force, the electrochemical ITM Oxygen process achieves a high-purity, high-flux separation of oxygen from air. This high temperature process lends itself to integration with advanced power generation processes that require oxygen as a feedstock, such as Oxy-Coal Combustion and IGCC, as well as for traditional industrial applications for oxygen and distributed power.

During Phases I and II of a three-phase program, the ITM Oxygen team established the feasibility of the ceramic membrane approach and designed and built commercial-scale membrane modules. A prototype facility designed to produce 5 tons-per-day of oxygen started up in 2005. Commercial-scale membrane modules continue to undergo rigorous testing in that unit. Larger-scale demonstration units are in the design phase, with commercialization projected in the early part of the next decade.

In previous studies, the very significant capital and operating cost reductions afforded by the technology have been reported for gasification, IGCC, and other energy-intensive applications. In this presentation, we will report additional flow sheet alternatives integrating ITM Oxygen with various unit operations, particularly toward reduced CO2 emissions from power generation cycles. Results from pilot-scale testing of commercial-scale ITM Oxygen modules will be discussed, and a projected implementation schedule will be presented.

This technology development has been supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-FC26-98FT40343. The Government reserves for itself and others acting on its behalf a royalty-free, nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license for Governmental purposes to publish, distribute, translate, duplicate, exhibit and perform this copyrighted paper

 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 2009 All Rights Reserved.