Methods and apparatus for reducing emissions in an integrated gasification combined cycle
View Patent ↗A method of assembling a gas removal system for an integrated gasification combined cycle is provided. The method includes coupling a first rich solvent tank in flow communication with the integrated gasification combined cycle to store a first emissions-rich solvent discharged from the integrated gasification combined cycle and coupling a first stripper in flow communication with the first rich solvent tank to facilitate removing gases from the first emissions-rich solvent. The method also includes coupling an absorber in flow communication with the first stripper to receive gases from the first stripper and create a second emissions-rich solvent and coupling a second rich solvent tank in flow communication with the absorber to store the second emissions-rich solvent.
1. A gas removal system for an integrated gasification combined cycle, said gas removal system comprising:
at least one start-up pump configured to operate at a first pressure;
a first absorber coupled to said at least one start-up pump, said first absorber configured to operate from the first pressure to a second higher pressure;
a first rich solvent tank coupled to said first absorber, said first rich solvent tank configured to receive a first emissions-rich solvent discharged from said first absorber during start-up operation of the integrated gasification combined cycle;
a first stripper coupled to said first rich solvent tank, said first stripper configured to facilitate removing gases from the first emissions-rich solvent;
a second absorber configured to receive gases removed from the first emissions-rich solvent to create a second emissions-rich solvent, wherein said second absorber comprises a tail gas treating unit; and
a second rich solvent tank configured to store the second emissions-rich solvent.
2. A gas removal system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second stripper configured to facilitate removing gases from the second emissions-rich solvent.
3. A gas removal system in accordance with claim 2 further comprising:
a first lean solvent tank coupled to said at least one start-up pump and configured to store a first emissions-lean solvent at the first pressure for use with startup operations of the integrated gasification combined cycle; and
a second lean solvent tank configured to store a solvent discharged by said second stripper.
4. A gas removal system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second strippers discharge gases to at least one sulfur recovery unit.
5. A gas removal system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one variable pressure absorber configured to discharge solvent to said first rich solvent tank.
6. A gas removal system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one of a recycling compressor and a hydrogen sulfide concentrator coupled in flow communication with said at least one second absorber.
7. An integrated gasification combined cycle comprising:
a gasifier; and
a gas removal system comprising:
at least one start-up pump configured to operate at a first pressure;
at least one first absorber coupled to said at least one start-up pump and operable from the first pressure to a second higher pressure;
a first rich solvent tank coupled to said at least one first absorber, said first rich solvent tank configured to receive a first emissions-rich solvent discharged from said integrated gasification combined cycle at the first pressure during start-up operation of said integrated gasification combined cycle;
a first stripper coupled to said first rich solvent tank, said first stripper configured to facilitate removing gases from the first emissions-rich solvent;
a second absorber configured to receive gases removed from the first emissions-rich solvent to create a second emissions-rich solvent, wherein said second absorber comprises a tail gas treating unit; and
a second rich solvent tank configured to store the second emissions-rich solvent.
8. An integrated gasification combined cycle in accordance with claim 7 further comprising at least one sulfur recovery unit, said gas removal system further comprises a second stripper configured to remove gases from the second emissions-rich solvent, said first and second strippers are configured to discharge gases to said at least one sulfur recovery unit.
9. An integrated gasification combined cycle in accordance with claim 8 wherein said gas removal system further comprises:
a first lean solvent tank coupled to said at least one start-up pump and configured to store a first emissions-lean solvent at the first pressure for use with startup operations of said integrated gasification combined cycle; and
a second lean solvent tank configured to store a solvent discharged by a second stripper.
10. An integrated gasification combined cycle in accordance with claim 7 further at least one variable pressure absorber configured to discharge solvent to said first rich solvent tank.
11. An integrated gasification combined cycle in accordance with claim 7 further comprising at least one of a recycling compressor and a hydrogen sulfide concentrator coupled in flow communication with said at least one second absorber.