Originally posted by geogymn
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In a syngas plant, the coal is converted into gas. This gas is used by a gas turbine, and the gas turbine drives a generator. Higher burn temperatures can be used so efficiency rises.
If carbon capture is employed, efficiency drops rapidly and goes below the first example described. This is due to the large amount of energy required to capture, store and compress the carbon dioxide.
A new type of combined cycle plant combines a steam turbine and a gas turbine to drive a generator. Syngas is used in the gas turbine and waste heat is used to boil water for the steam turbine. This type of plant has the best efficiency to date (assuming no carbon capture).
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