Integrating IT-SOFC and gasification combined cycle with methanation reactor and hydrogen firing for near zero-emission power generation from coal

Application of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) in gasification-based power plants would represent a turning point in the power generation sector, allowing to considerably increase the electric efficiency of coal-fired power stations while reducing CO2 and other pollutant emissions. The aim of this paper is the thermodynamic assessment of a SOFC-based IGFC plant with methanation reactor, hydrogen post-firing and CO2 capture by physical absorption. The configuration proposed allows to obtain a very high net efficiency (51.6%), overcoming the main limits of configurations assessed in previous works.