A Low-Cost, Environmentally Friendly Thermal Storage for CO2 Sequestration

Coal-fired integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) power plants need to be able to increase their power outputs during peak demand periods without increasing CO2 emissions to improve power grid quality and increase power grid security. We propose to develop a compact, low-cost combined thermal and CO2 storage system. This system can not only directly increase the plant power output, but it can also store a large amount of CO2. The CO2 storage will shift the parasitic load of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) process during peak periods to non-peak periods, thereby increasing net power output indirectly as well. The system uses very low-cost, nontoxic, naturally occurring materials as the chemical reactants. The system can be easily integrated with existing and future IGCC power plants. Commercial Application and Other Benefits The low-cost storage system will enhance the ability of an existing power grid with integrated IGCC plants to meet dynamic demands by increasing peak capacity without increasing CO2 emission. It will also enhance the cost and performance benefits of coal-fired IGCC plants.