A Brief Primer on Gasification [Infographic]

Gasification-based energy conversion systems are capable of providing a stable, affordable, high-efficiency energy supply with a minimal environmental impact. They can provide flexibility in the production of a wide range of products including electricity, fuels, chemicals, hydrogen, and steam, while utilizing low-cost, widely available feedstocks. In particular, gasification of abundant U.S. coal provides an alternative to commercial coal-based combustion systems that is generally more efficient and environmentally benign. Coal gasification is a well proven technology that has had many applications, starting with the production of coal gas for urban areas, progressing to the production of fuels, such as oil and synthetic natural gas (SNG), chemicals, and most recently, to large-scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power generation. The first commercial IGCC plants were put into service in the U.S. through DOE’s cooperative Clean Coal Technology (CCT) program, and have proven capable of exceeding the most stringent emissions regulations currently applicable to coal-fueled power plants. They have achieved the lowest levels of criteria pollutant air emissions (NOx, SOx, CO, PM10) of any coalfueled power plants in the world. However, because of ever-tightening environmental regulations governing fossil fuel-based power generation, it is important to assess the environmental performance of IGCC technology in order to address key regulatory issues that may affect both the siting and operation of future commercial plants. The Infographic shows: - A generalized overview of key gasification based energy conversion concepts, with IGCC currently representing one of the most promising configurations. - A detailed description of major IGCC components, including alternative gasifier designs and basic environmental control options for criteria pollutants. - Characterization of the primary resource inputs and effluent discharges, the latter being of critical importance in defining the impact of IGCC technology on the environment. Read less