Simulation technology for clean-burning coal plant

18 November 2008

Invensys Process Systems (IPS) has been selected by the United States Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to provide a dynamic process simulator for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant with carbon capture. The IGCC plant simulator is part of the DOE's initiative to develop clean-coal power plants.

Simulation technology for clean-burning coal plant

Located at NETL's research and training centre in Morgantown, W.Va. the IGCC process converts coal to a high-pressure, high-temperature gas that can be subjected to advanced carbon capture and storage technology. Using IPS services and solutions, including DynSim process modelling software from SimSci-Esscor and InTouch(r) human machine interface software from Wonderware, NETL's research and training centre will offer IGCC operation and control demonstrations, technology familiarisation and hands-on simulator training, helping to prove the technical and economic feasibility of producing electricity from coal while eliminating carbon emissions.

IGCC represents a new-generation power plant capable of capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global climate change. IPS simulation services and technology will be used to demonstrate that IGCC plants can produce environmentally friendly coal-fueled electricity on a commercial scale while eradicating the emissions created by conventional power plants.

IPS was selected to provide the simulator because of the company's technology and experience. IPS is a leading provider of operator training simulators to the global power utility and chemical process industries, and the company has taken a leading role in helping to improve coal gasification, electricity generation, emissions control, carbon dioxide capture and storage, and hydrogen production.

"Our partnership with the DOE is a significant step toward convincing global leaders that clean-coal power plants can be operated safely and effectively," said Tobias Scheele, IPS Vice President of Advanced Applications. "Our high-fidelity simulation of the IGCC process will allow operations personnel to see exactly how the IGCC plant will behave. It's all part of our commitment to green engineering and to improving our global environment, and we look forward to helping the DOE take the lead in developing, producing and delivering clean-coal power and electricity."