Techno-economic analysis on oxy-fuel based steam turbine power system using municipal solid waste and coals with ultrasonicator sulfur removal

摘要

Abstract Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a carbon–neutral energy source and possesses a moderate heating value; hence, it can be used as an alternative fuel for coal. To use high ash and high sulfur Indian coals efficiently, a techno economic analysis is performed for electricity generation using supercritical and subcritical based steam turbines operating in the oxy-fuel co-combustion mode of MSW with Indian coals. The impact of?the capture of direct and indirect greenhouse gasses such as CO2, NOx and SOx on the net thermal efficiency of the power plants is assessed. The supercritical based steam turbine achieved a higher net thermal efficiency by 8.8% using MSW based feedstock compared to sub-critical conditions. The co-combustion mode reduced the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by 48–73 $/MWh. Techno-economic analysis for sulfur removal in coal using ultrasonication technology has not yet been?reported in the literature. The incorporation of an ultrasonicator (a pre-combustion sulfur remover) and a duct sorbent injector (a post-combustion SOx absorber) increased the LCOE by 1.39–2.75 $/MWh. In high sulfur coals, the SOx emissions decreased from 224.79?mg/m3 to 9.2?mg/m3.