Enviropower Inc., a joint venture of Tampella Power Inc. and Vattenfall Engineering AB, is developing a new process for power generation based on the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). This IGCC concept incorporates the pressurized fluidized-bed gasification of different solid fuels (the U-Gas process), applying air-blown gasification and hot gas cleanup. Ceramic candle filters are evaluated to be the best candidate at present for high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) filtration of the gasifier gas. Filter behavior was examined as a part of the gasification pilot-plant test program. According to the results, ceramic candle filters have a good filtration efficiency, although the reliability of filtration technology is not yet at commercial level.
