Exergy analysis of the recuperative auto thermal reforming (R-ATR) and recuperative reforming (R-REF) power cycles with CO2 removal

Two relatively innovative gas turbine (GT) based power cycles with high CO2 removal potential have been proposed and discussed in terms of exergy analysis. Fuel decarbonisation is applied by the means of auto thermal reforming (R-ATR) and simple reforming (R-REF), in order to convert the primary natural gas into a highly H2 and CO2 concentrated fuel. Thus, CO2 is captured with amine chemical absorption into a specific unit and, finally, the decarbonised fuel is sent to the GT combustion chamber. No bottoming steam cycle is included, which should promote the size flexibility of the powerplant. The heat content of GT exhausts is employed partially to sustain the endothermic reforming reactions and partially for cycle recuperation. Moreover, the possibility of steam blade cooling has been investigated.