Gas Turbine Handbook : Principles and Practices

Case Study #1 231
combined cycle technology to power production from coal requires
conversion of coal to a gaseous fuel via a coal gasification process.
Coal gasification processes involves partial combustion of coal to
provide energy for further conversion of the coal into a gaseous fuel
primarily containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen and nitrogen.
In many regions of the United States, electric reserve margins
have declined to low levels and increases in new power plant orders
are predicted. The criteria used for selecting a power plant technology
must include cost competitiveness, environmental superiority,
module size, fuel flexibility, reliability and availability, and construction
lead time. Based on these criteria, IGCC technology is a leading
candidate for new capacity additions. Demonstration of this technology
should provide a coal-based option with a cost of electricity that
is competitive with more conventional technologies.
In order to meet the challenges of market-place and environment,
a simplified IGCC system incorporating air-blown gasification
with hot gas cleanup has been developed. Eliminating the oxygen
plant and minimizing the need for gas cooling and wastewater
processing equipment, reduces capital cost and improves plant efficiency.
Project Overview
Sierra Pacific Power Company (SPPCo) submitted a proposal
requesting co-funding for the Piñon Pine Power Project in response
to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) issuing its Program
Opportunity Notice for Round IV of the Clean Coal Technology
program. This proposal was selected for co-funding by the DOE in
Fall 1991, and a Cooperative Agreement between the DOE and SP-
PCo was executed in August 1992. SPPCo’s proposal was for design,
engineering, construction, and operation of a nominal 800 ton-perday,
air-blown, IGCC project. The project was to be constructed at
SPPCo’s existing Tracy Station, a 400 MW, gas/oil-fired power generation
facility. The Tracy Station is located on a rural 724-acre [293
hectare] plot about 20 miles [32Km] east of Reno at an elevation of
4280 feet [1305m] above sea level. The DOE will provide funding of
$135 million in matching funds for construction and operation of the
facility. (Figure 14-1, Tracy Power Station’s Location within SPPCo’s
Service Territory).
The Kellogg-Rust-Westinghouse (KRW) ash-agglomerating flu-