What are the environmental benefits of an IGCC unit compared to pulverized coal?
In addition to the lower air emissions discussed above, an IGCC unit uses less water per megawatt of output than pulverized coal (about a third less) due to the use of combustion turbines rather than steam turbines for a significant amount of the output. The process to remove sulfur from the synthesis gas prior to combustion can be designed to produce either elemental sulfur or sulfuric acid, both of which can be sold to local industries, and there is no solid waste product to dispose of as there is in wet flue gas desulfurization (scrubber) systems typically used on conventional coal units.
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- IGCC is reported to be more expensive to build than a conventional pulverized coal plant. How is IGCC Tampa Electric’s most cost effective option to meet customer demand?
- Why is Tampa Electric proposing an IGCC unit and not a conventional pulverized coal unit?
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