Energy Conclave - 2006

1. Energy Conclave - 2006 Frontiers in Technologies and Modernization Dr.R.R.Sonde Executive Director (Energy Technologies) NTPC Ltd N.Delhi 28th July’ 2006

2. Frontier in Technologies & Modernization Electricity, the future form of energy • Electricity is going to be the main stay of Energy • Transport sector could see a major change from natural liquid hydrocarbon to either Electricity, Hydrogen or Synthetic Liquid Fuel • Rural prosperity would see a major shift from the usage of non-commercial energy to electricity Coal / Biomass and water would be physical form of fuel outside ‘fusion’ Solar is going to be the riding source of “energy”

3. Frontier in Technologies & Modernization However, for this to happen, electricity has to be affordable, available and clean • Cheap Power :High Efficiency (from mine to delivery) • Abundant Power :Plentiful so that it powers the country’s growth • Clean Power :Environmentally Benign Efficiency Penalty for CCS (Carbon Capture & Seq) would be 10% points over and above the indicated efficiency figures All the available technologies are based of ‘Rankine Cycle’ It essentially uses ‘Condenser’ which limits the cycle efficiency to ~ 50% We need to develop a ‘cycle’ which is fundamentally different.

4. Coal Reserve 250 billion tons • Gas Reserve 553 bcm • Petroleum Reserve 5.4 billion barrels Frontier in Technologies & Modernization Abundant Power The country has plentiful energy sources marked coal superabundance and weak hydrocarbons… Coal remains the most important fuel for power industry Coal is likely to become the source of Synthetic Fuel & Electricity required for Transp. Sector Coal is expected to become the fulcrum of ‘Hydrogen Economy’ Development of ‘Alternate Power Cycle’ has to be based on Coal being supplemented by bio mass, water and solar

5. Very High Ash Content: 40% - 50% • High Alfa Quartz Content • High Abrasive Index • Low Heating Value: 2500–3500 Kcal/Kg Hot Climate: • Low Condenser Vacuum & Boiler Eff • No requirement of District Heating Coal Abundant Power Cheap Power Tech nology Climate Clean Power Frontier in Technologies & Modernization Clean Power Producing clean power with coal, even today, is a challenge The Challenge Fuel extraction island Combustion Island [Boiler] Power Island [Turbine] Transmission Distribution [80%] =65% =85%-90% =95% =85-90% Overall <22%!!! I suggest two frontier technologies this country can take up in MISSION mode. They are

6. Absorber Syn. Gas Syn. Liquid Hydrocarbon Coal Ammonia / Urea / Chemical Bio mass Hydrogen Electricity Unconverted Fuel Separator Steam Fuel Cell Gasifier Hot Gas Cleanup Gasification Island Cooling Zeolite Combustion Island Frontier in Technologies & Modernization The Solution : The frontier technology - 1, India centric Migrate from ‘Rankine’ based power to a fundamentally new one (Hybridise Rankine at back end using ammonia cycle) Char comb. island Chemical Energy [Coal] Gasification Island [Gasifier] Electrical Energy [Fuel Cell] Cycle Efficiency [65% - 80%] ~95% ~80% Bubbling bed MALAE Cycle, Low gr. Q CO2CCS

7. Frontier Technology & Modernization The Traditional Power Generation cycle Thermal Energy in Boiler Mechanical Energy in Turbine 14000C 5200C Chemical Energy in Coal Electrical Energy in Generator Fuel cell (Gibbs FE) Governed by 2nd Law of Thermodynamics Input Energy = 100 Output energy =33 Carnot Engine (Energy) How to Increase the Efficiency of this system ?

8. Frontier Technology & Modernization Why fuel cells? • Almost all conventional technologies use combustion and Carnot cycle • In this, the maximum theoretically achievable efficiency depends on heat source and sink temperature • Though higher efficiency up to 83.7 % is possible, actual achievable efficiency is limited by non-availability of suitable materials for such high temperature Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of a reaction directly into electrical energy.

9. Chemical Energy [Coal] Gasification Island [Boiler] Electrical Energy [Fuel Cell] • Water • Bio Mass Artificial Photo Synthesis • Hydrogen • Methanol • Syn Gas • Electricity Water / CO2 Methanol Electricity Hydrogen Solar Photon Bacteria Alt. Fuel Bio Mass Syn Gas Fuel Products Use Artificial Photosynthesis Frontier in Technologies & Modernization Frontier technology-2, Solar To Fuel And Electricity Interfacing biology with physical sciences at nano-scale will be what ultimately will provide an abundant and perpetual source of fuel and power – perhaps at par with fusion. Fusion mimics solar while this would mimic nature (photo synthesis)

10. Frontier in Technologies & Modernization What is different than already known? • Low temperature water (& CO2) splitting – to produce hydrogen or methanol • Low temperature conversion of cellulose (bio mass) into synthesis gas – Substitute for high temperature gasification process Elements in Solar to Fuel & Electricity Powered by sunlight, nano scale inorganic materials embedded in organic base convert water, CO2 to hydrogen, methanol Polymers made from customised dendmimrimers mimic photosynthesis Using technique of synthetic biology, yeast can manufacture fuels from bio mass

11. Frontier in Technologies & Modernization Way forward: • I suggest following • Set up a 25 Mw (equivalent) FT-1 Mission. About six top institutions and two R&D savvy industry. Government to mentor the mission • Set up National Mission on Solar to Fuel Mission (FT-2). Would require interface with Nano, Synthetic biology and electrochemistry as backbone. Engg. Science to be introduced later At a later stage FT-2 will be dovetailed with FT-1 Time frame, Budget, Institutional mechanisms ???

12. Frontier in Technologies & Modernization While I have suggested two frontier technologies, the existing technologies seek intervention of good number of technological solutions. Today we have adequate tools (scientific), knowledge, operating experience to develop the intervention technologies. May I suggest we take up one more new development of solar through heliostats? What is this 

13. Frontier in Technologies & Modernization Solar Tower

14. Salt Cycle hot storage cold storage steam generator 290 °C 565 °C output to turbine input from condenser Frontier in Technologies & Modernization • Solar Tower • A field of flat mirrors concentrate light on central receivers • As flat mirrors can have two-axis solar tracking, high collection efficiency (>80%) • An HTF (molten salts) is heated up (550 Deg C) • Generate steam in a heat exchanger (535 Deg C) • Run a steam cycle – Overall efficiency : about 24% Cont. supply

15. CONCLUSION “When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires to help you to achieve your dreams” ……..The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Thank You

16. V e- 2H+ + 0.5O2 H2O + 2 h+ 2H+ + 2e- H2 R H- Cathode Photoanode hv Na2SO4 Photo-Electrochemical Hydrogen • Combine Electrolysis an PV technology into a one step process • Problems: Chemical photo-corrosion and high cost

17. Reactions occur at individual molecules suspended the solution A Photo-Synthesizer works in conjunction with a relay compound to transfer energy and generate hydrogen S+ H2O H2 Oxidation Catalyst Reduction Catalyst 0.5 O2 Sun hv 2H+ S 2H+ Photochemical Hydrogen