In the heart of China’s energy transition, a groundbreaking study led by Shiwei Yu from Northeastern University’s School of Metallurgy in Shenyang is challenging the status quo of combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems. The research, published in the journal *Energy Science & Engineering*, offers a novel approach to align these systems with China’s unique energy landscape, where coal is abundant and natural gas is scarce.
Traditional CCHP systems, while efficient, rely heavily on natural gas, a resource that China lacks in sufficient quantities. Yu and his team have developed a coal-based multi-energy combined supply system that could revolutionize the way China meets its energy demands. “Our system addresses the structural conflict between traditional CCHP systems and China’s energy endowment,” Yu explains. “By leveraging coal, we can fully utilize the strengths of CCHP systems and enhance the efficiency of clean coal utilization.”
The team’s innovative system integrates electricity, heating, cooling, and gas production using coal as the primary fuel. They employed physical and mathematical models within the Aspen Plus 9.0 simulation platform to design and analyze the system. To ensure the model’s reliability, they validated it against data from relevant literature.
One of the study’s key findings is the significant impact of coal-water slurry concentration and oxygen-to-coal ratio on gasifier performance. These parameters influence gasifier temperature, syngas composition, calorific value, and cold gas efficiency. The system achieved optimal performance at an oxygen-to-coal ratio of 1.05 and a coal-water slurry concentration of 65%.
Under design conditions, the system demonstrated a comprehensive energy efficiency of 66.18% and an exergy efficiency of 34.43%. These results are a testament to the system’s potential to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
The implications of this research for the energy sector are profound. As China and other countries strive to meet their “dual carbon” goals—carbon peaking and carbon neutrality—the demand for innovative, efficient, and clean energy solutions will only grow. Yu’s work offers a promising pathway for coal-fired power transformation, not just in China but globally.
“This study provides an innovative solution to address technological bottlenecks in China’s energy transition,” Yu states. “It offers a new technical pathway for coal-fired power transformation under the ‘dual carbon’ goals.”
The research also underscores the importance of tailored energy solutions that consider local energy endowments. As the world grapples with energy security and sustainability, such approaches could pave the way for more resilient and efficient energy systems.
In the quest for cleaner energy, Yu’s work serves as a reminder that innovation often lies at the intersection of necessity and ingenuity. By harnessing the power of coal more efficiently and cleanly, this research could shape the future of energy supply systems, contributing to a more sustainable and secure energy landscape.