The integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC)process has the potential to emerge as a high efficiency andenvironmentally clean technology. In the IGCC process, coal isconverted to a gas which is used as a fuel to generate power in agas turbine combined cycle system. Coal gas contains ammoniawhich is converted to nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the gas turbine,and the removal of NOX from gas turbine exhaust is expensive.Removal of ammonia from coal gas prior to combustion in the gasturbine lowers costs and improves the overall efficiency of theIGCC process. A new and low cost process is being developed todecompose the ammonia present in coal gas to nitrogen. Thisprocess operates at high temperatures and high pressures, and hasthe potential to reduce ammonia concentration to one part permillion. The process uses a chemical reagent which decomposesammonia to nitrogen and increases the heating value of coal gas,which in turn increases output of the IGCC power plant. DuringPhase I, ammonia decomposition tests will be performed underdifferent conditions to establish the technical feasibility ofthe process. The test data will be used to develop a design basisand make a preliminary cost estimate.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The ammonia decomposition processlowers IGCC technology costs and improves the quality of theenvironment. The process has good commercialization potential forIGCC power plant applications.
