Pietropaolo Morrone

Biomass Exploitation in Efficient ORC Systems

The research intends to investigate the energetic performances of Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs) for the exploitation of the biomass resulting from agricultural residues. To this purpose, a parametric analysis has been carried out. Saturated and superheated conditions at the turbine inlet have been imposed and the effect of the internal regeneration on plant performances has been studied. The results highlight that ORC plants represent an interesting and sustainable solution for small-scale and decentralised power production. Moreover, the analysis shows the significant impact of the temperature and internal regeneration technique on the performances of the biomass power plants.

5 – Membrane technology for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture in power plants

Abstract: Polymeric membranes are mainly used today for CO2 capture by membrane technology to produce clean fuel from a gas mixture (from coal gasification or steam reforming processes). Furthermore, gas separation using polymeric membranes is commercially available; nevertheless, CO2 capture in large-scale power production by means of polymeric membranes still presents an inadequate performance owing to their lack of high-temperature stability. CO2 capture using membranes is an ongoing innovative solution that can be applied in combination with all types of power plants, since its main benefit is the possibility of using membranes in combination with small-scale modular fuel cells. In contrast, the main drawback of the removal of carbon dioxide using commercially available membranes is the higher energy penalties on power generation efficiency with respect to a conventional chemical absorption process.

7 – Advanced membrane separation processes and technology for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture in power plants

Abstract: (CO2) capture by membrane separation in order to produce clean fuel from a gas mixture (from coal gasification or steam reforming processes) can use either polymeric or inorganic membranes. Inorganic membranes are very attractive for CO2 removal in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants even though their costs are very high. Gas separation using polymeric membranes is commercially available. However, CO2 capture using polymeric membranes in large-scale power production is still inadequate, due to their poor high-temperature stability. CO2 capture using membrane technology is an innovative solution that could be applied to all types of power plant off-gases, its main benefit being the possibility of using membranes in combination with small-scale modular fuel cells. The main drawback of removing CO2 using commercially-available membranes is the higher energy penalties on power generation efficiency compared to conventional chemical absorption processes.

6 – Advanced carbon dioxide (CO2) gas separation membrane development for power plants

: In this chapter carbon dioxide (CO2) separation from power plant flue gases through membranes will be discussed. The performances of membrane systems (permeation characteristics, stability, and so on) will be discussed with particular attention to the membrane materials available and membrane modules. An example of membrane design for integration in power plants will be given. Even though membrane systems are not yet applied industrially for such separation, the advances in the field make membranes very attractive for application in the near future. Some consideration of material costs will also be given at the end of the chapter.