In the joint project "Advanced Development of the Coal-fired Oxyfuel Process with CO₂ Separation" (ADECOS), RWE, among others, is examining a process which combusts coal in a mixture of pure oxygen and recirculated flue gas. 

In-depth tests 

In the experimental oxyfuel process, fossil-fired power plants burn hard coal or lignite along with pure oxygen and not, as is usual, with air. Afterwards, the flue gas that emerges contains almost exclusively CO₂ and steam. The components can be separated by cooling: the steam condenses to water, the carbon dioxide is left over and could then be stored below the ground. So, the oxyfuel process is a possible step toward a low-emission power plant. Together with other project partners, the developers at RWE are at the moment thoroughly testing this innovative combustion method. Pilot plants are furnishing important findings, like the emission behaviour of the oxyfuel system or its proneness to fouling and slagging.  

Optimizing further

The oxyfuel process, like other CO₂-avoidance technologies as well, leads to a loss in efficiency. Before larger demonstration power plants will be built, this value is to be further optimized and ADECOS will boost research into the oxyfuel process going with new findings.  

Block diagram of the oxyfuel principle 

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