Oxyfuel concept development

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy sources are important national and international targets. Oxyfuel (oxygen combustion technology) is one of the most promising technologies enabling carbon capture and storage (CCS) from flue gases. Aim of oxyfuel concept development is to study different oxygen production technologies, combustion processes, CO2 capture methods and integrate those to optimised concept. Goal is to create technical readiness for demonstration of oxygen combustion by using state-of-the-art knowledge, experiments, modelling and simulation. Demonstration plan for oxygen combustion for an existing power plant(s) in Finland will be prepared. Main results will be an evaluation of oxygen combustion business potential for implementation in existing and new power plants, and improvement of competitiveness of Finnish companies in energy sector by developing CO2-free power production technologies. Before oxygen combustion can be demonstrated in full-scale, small-scale testing and model development must be done. Material exposure conditions in oxygen combustion will differ from any present day environment. Current high temperature steel grades have been not developed nor tested for such aggressive conditions. VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland) has in Jyväskylä unique small-scale combustors applicable for oxygen combustion research.