Screening and techno-economic assessment of biomass-based power generation with CCS technologies to meet 2050 CO2 targets

Biomass-based power generation combined with CO2 capture and storage (Biopower CCS) currently represents one of the few practical and economic means of removing large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere, and the only approach that involves the generation of electricity at the same time. We present the results of the Techno-Economic Study of Biomass to Power with CO2 capture (TESBiC) project, that entailed desk-based review and analysis, process engineering, optimisation as well as primary data collection from some of the leading pilot demonstration plants. From the perspective of being able to deploy Biopower CCS by 2050, twenty-eight Biopower CCS technology combinations involving combustion or gasification of biomass (either dedicated or co-fired with coal) together with pre-, oxy- or post-combustion CO2 capture were identified and assessed. In addition to the capital and operating costs, techno-economic characteristics such as electrical efficiencies (LHV% basis), Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE), costs of CO2 captured and CO2 avoided were modelled over time assuming technology improvements from today to 2050. Many of the Biopower CCS technologies gave relatively similar techno-economic results when analysed at the same scale, with the plant scale (MWe) observed to be the principal driver of CAPEX (£/MWe) and the cofiring % (i.e. the weighted feedstock cost) a key driver of LCOE. The data collected during the TESBiC project also highlighted the lack of financial incentives for generation of electricity with negative CO2 emissions

A targeted next-generation sequencing assay for the molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders with orodental involvement.

BACKGROUND: Orodental diseases include several clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that can present in isolation or as part of a genetic syndrome. Due to the vast number of genes implicated in these disorders, establishing a molecular diagnosis can be challenging. We aimed to develop a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay to diagnose mutations and potentially identify novel genes mutated in this group of disorders. METHODS: We designed an NGS gene panel that targets 585 known and candidate genes in orodental disease. We screened a cohort of 101 unrelated patients without a molecular diagnosis referred to the Reference Centre for Oro-Dental Manifestations of Rare Diseases, Strasbourg, France, for a variety of orodental disorders including isolated and syndromic amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), isolated and syndromic selective tooth agenesis (STHAG), isolated and syndromic dentinogenesis imperfecta, isolated dentin dysplasia, otodental dysplasia and primary failure of tooth eruption. RESULTS: We discovered 21 novel pathogenic variants and identified the causative mutation in 39 unrelated patients in known genes (overall diagnostic rate: 39%). Among the largest subcohorts of patients with isolated AI (50 unrelated patients) and isolated STHAG (21 unrelated patients), we had a definitive diagnosis in 14 (27%) and 15 cases (71%), respectively. Surprisingly, COL17A1 mutations accounted for the majority of autosomal-dominant AI cases. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a novel targeted NGS assay for the efficient molecular diagnosis of a wide variety of orodental diseases. Furthermore, our panel will contribute to better understanding the contribution of these genes to orodental disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT01746121 and NCT02397824.journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't2016 Feb2015 10 26importe

Chemical-Looping Coal Combustion – Results from the ACCLAIM project

This work concerns the first 22 months of the 30-month ACCLAIM project. The project has involved both experimental activities in CLC pilots of 1.5 kW, 10 kW and 100 kW, as well as laboratory investigations and studies in a cold-flow model. Furthermore, investigations have been made using modelling with different approaches and with different aims. The main result of the pilot operation is that several low-cost materials should be able to improve gas conversion significantly as compared to previously tested ilmenite. Promising low cost materials include iron and manganese ores. Two manganese ores were evaluated by operation in a 10 kW CLC reactor system. These materials are called Sinfin, and Mangagran. Both materials performed well with respect to gas conversion, and oxygen demand was clearly lower as compared to ilmenite. The production rate of fines suggested an expected lifetime of around 300 h for one of the manganese materials, Sinfin, which is a distinct improvement as compared to the Buriturama ore previously tested in the 10 kW unit. Further, the fate of fuel contaminants like sulphur and nitrogen has been investigated. Models to describe fluidization and to predict conversion have been developed and are validated against operational data. Mathematical modelling and cold-flow modelling show possible ways of increasing process performance by modification of process or reactor design. A 100 kW CLC unit was operated with a mixture of ilmenite and a Brazilian manganese ore called Buritirama, which had been tested in a previous project and had been found to be much more reactive than ilmenite, although concerns had been raised regarding the attrition resistance. The mixture of ilmenite and Buritirama gave significant improvements in gas conversion in comparison to ilmenite

Chemical-Looping Coal Combustion – Results from the ACCLAIM project

This work concerns the first 22 months of the 30-month ACCLAIM project. The project has involved both experimental activities in CLC pilots of 1.5 kW, 10 kW and 100 kW, as well as laboratory investigations and studies in a cold-flow model. Furthermore, investigations have been made using modelling with different approaches and with different aims.The main result of the pilot operation is that several low-cost materials should be able to improve gas conversion significantly as compared to previously tested ilmenite. Promising low cost materials include iron and manganese ores. Two manganese ores were evaluated by operation in a 10 kW CLC reactor system. These materials are called Sinfin, and Mangagran. Both materials performed well with respect to gas conversion, and oxygen demand was clearly lower as compared to ilmenite. The production rate of fines suggested an expected lifetime of around 300 h for one of the manganese materials, Sinfin, which is a distinct improvement as compared to the Buriturama ore previously tested in the 10 kW unit.Further, the fate of fuel contaminants like sulphur and nitrogen has been investigated. Models to describe fluidization and to predict conversion have been developed and are validated against operational data. Mathematical modelling and cold-flow modelling show possible ways of increasing process performance by modification of process or reactor design.A 100 kW CLC unit was operated with a mixture of ilmenite and a Brazilian manganese ore called Buritirama, which had been tested in a previous project and had been found to be much more reactive than ilmenite, although concerns had been raised regarding the attrition resistance. The mixture of ilmenite and Buritirama gave significant improvements in gas conversion in comparison to ilmenite

Development of metal oxides Chemical Looping process for coal-fired power plants

1 figure, 1 scheme.-- Talk delivered in the IEA GHG, 3rd Oxyfuel Combustion Conference, Ponferrada (Spain), 6th -13th september 2013.Power generation is one of the biggest sources of man-made CO2 emissions. Significant research is underway to develop efficient low cost capture technologies. A number of novel technologies for both new and retrofit to fossil power plants have been conceived and are under development to offer greatly improved economics for carbon capture. Among the promising long term ideas currently being investigated are chemical looping technologies. A major advantage associated with chemical looping technologies is that oxygen is supplied to the combustion process without the large efficiency penalty and investment cost associated with a cryogenic type Air Separation Unit (ASU)

Chemical-looping Combustion CO2 Ready Gas Power

AbstractThis paper presents results from a 30 -month project devoted to taking the chemical-looping combustion (CLC) technology to the next level of development. The project is part of the EU’s Sixth Framework programme with support from the CCP (Carbon Capture Project) and has mainly focused on the critical issues for an up-scaling of the technology. In an earlier project the CLC technology was demonstrated successfully for the first time for 100 h using Ni -based oxyge n carrier particles using natural gas as fuel. The current project has built on these experiences and : i) established industrial-scale NiO particle production with suitab le commercial raw materials. Oxygen carrier particles have been produced with both s pray -drying and impregnation and investigated extensively with respect to parameters important for CLC operation, such as reactivity in batch and continuous operation, strength, defluidization phenomena, operation at high temperatures and effect of imp urities suc h as H 2S in the fuel; ii) extended operational experience in long term tests of particles in the available 10 kW prototype for more than 1000 hours combustion and iii) succesfully scaled -up and operated the process in a 120 kWth combustor using syn gas and natural gas. Further, the project has included extended and verified modelling of the reactor system for scale-up in addition to process and technology scale-up and economic assessment. The paper will present the main results of the project