The use of air-bottoming cycle as a heat source for the carbon dioxide capture installation of a coal-fired power unit

The installations of CO2 capture from flue gases using chemical absorption require a supply of large amounts of heat into the system. The most common heating medium is steam extracted from the cycle, which results in a decrease in the power unit efficiency. The use of heat needed for the desorption process from another source could be an option for this configuration. The paper presents an application of gas-air systems for the generation of extra amounts of energy and heat. Gas-air systems, referred to as the air bottoming cycle (ABC), are composed of a gas turbine powered by natural gas, air compressor and air turbine coupled to the system by means of a heat exchanger. Example configurations of gas-air systems are presented. The efficiency and power values, as well as heat fluxes of the systems under consideration are determined. For comparison purposes, the results of modelling a system consisting of a gas turbine and a regenerative exchanger are presented.