Part 2 CCT Overview
Coal-fired Power Generation Technologies (Gasification Technologies)

2B3. Multi-purpose Coal Gasification Technology Development (EAGLE)
Research and development: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization;
J-POWER; Japan Coal Energy Center; and Babcock Hitachi K.K.
Project type: Coal Production and Utilization Technology Promotion Grant; and Grant for the Development ofAdvanced Technology for Generation of Fuel Gas for Fuel Cell Development
Period: 1995-2006 (12 years)

Technology Overview

1. Summary of technology
The purpose of EAGLE (Multi-purpose Coal Gasification

chemicals, hydrogen production, synthetic liquid fuel, electricTechnology Development) is to reduce the environmental burden,power generation and other purposes.

particularly global warming gas emissions. The EAGLE projectThis gasifier, combined with gas turbines, steam turbines, and fuelaims to establish a coal gasification system utilizing the mostcells, will provide an integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined-advanced oxygen-blown, single-chamber, two-stage swirling flow

cycle system (IGFC) that can be expected to reduce CO2

gasifier that allows the highly-efficient production of synthetic gasemissions by up to 30% relative to existing thermal power plants.

(CO+H2), and which can be widely used as a raw material for2. Development targets and technology to be developed
The EAGLE project’s development targets are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Development targets

When utilizing coal-gasified gas for fuel cell power generation or

Item

Development target

the production of synthetic fuel, hydrogen, or chemical fertilizers,
sulfur compounds and other impurities contained in the gas may

Coal gasification
performance

Carbon conversion rate: 98% or higher
Cold gas efficiency: 78% or higher
Gas calorific value (higher): 10,000 kJ/m3N or higher

Gas purification
performance

Sulfur compounds: 1 ppm or less
Halogen compounds: 1 ppm or lessAmmonia: 1 ppm or less
Dust: 1 mg/m3N

Miscellaneous

Continuous operation: 1,000 hr or longer
Acquisition of gasification data for 5 or more coal types
Acquisition of scale-up datacontaminate the fuel cells and the reactor catalyst, thereby
degrading their performance. The EAGLE project, therefore, setstargets to meet the purity levels required by fuel cells andcatalysts. Since there have been few reports published on thematter, particularly on the effects of fuel cell contaminating
materials (including halogens), the project set target levels withreference to reports by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), theMCFC Association of Japan, and other organizations.

3. Pilot test plant
In this project, a pilot test plant with a coal processing capacity ofplant consists of the following systems: coal pretreatment, coal

150 tons/day was built on the premises of the J-POWER’sgasification, air separation, gas purification, effluent treatment,

Wakamatsu Research Institute. Operational testing is nowand produced gas combustion, as well as a gas turbine.

underway. Figure 1 shows a flowchart of the pilot test plant andTable 2 provides the specifications of the major systems. The test
Table 2 Specifications of major systems
Coal gasification facilities

Coal gasifier

Precision desulfurizer
Gasifier

Item

Gas purification facilities

SGC
MDEA
regenerator

Pulverized coal
COS converter

Coal processing capacity

Acid gas
Furnace

FilterPrimary
scrubber

Limestone
absorber

Secondary MDEA
scrubberabsorber

Incinerator

Compressor

Rectifier

HRSG

Air

Air separator

Stack

Gas turbine facility

Fig. 1 Flowchart of EAGLE 150 t/d pilot plant39

Oxygen-blown, single-chamber,
two-stage swirling-flow entrained
bed gasifier

150t/d (6.3t/hr)

Gasification temperature

1,200-1,600℃

Gasification pressure

2.5MPaGas refinery

Wet chemical absorption type

Absorbing solution

Methyl diethanolamine (MDEA)

Processing capacity

Approx. 14,800 m3N/h

Char
Slag

Specifications

Sulfur recovery unit

Wet limestone-gypsum method

Air separation system

Pressurized cryogenic separation type

Air pressure

1.09MPa

Air processing capacity

Approx. 27,500m3N/hr

Oxygen production

Approx. 4.600m3N/hr

Oxygen purity

95%

Gas turbine

Open simple-cycle, single-shaft typeOutput8,000kWClean Coal Technologies in Japan

4. Timetable and progress
Table 3 Achievement of research targets

This project is being promoted by a joint

Final target

team from the New Energy and IndustrialAchievements

Gas electric power generation 10,000 kJ/m3N or higher

Technology Development Organization

Coal gasification
Carbon conversion rateperformance
Cold gas efficiency(NEDO) and the J-POWER. The pilot
plant (150 t/d) was constructed on thepremises of J-POWER’s Wakamatsu

Sulfur compounds

Research Institute (Photo 1), and operationalGas purification Ammonia
performance
Halogen compounds

testing is now underway.

Dust

10,100 kJ/m3N or higher

98% or higher

99% or higher

78% or higher

78% or higher

1 ppm or less

N.D. (<1 ppm or less)

1 ppm or less

1 ppm1

1 ppm or less

1 ppm or less

1 mg/m3N

1 mg/m3N or less2

Notes: Coal processing capacity of 150 t/d verified
1: at the outlet of the absorber, 2: at the outlet of the second scrubber

EAGLE development timetable
Fiscal year
1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

F/S
Conceptual/detailed design
Fabrication and construction
Operation research

5. Future plans
Major future developments are planned for the project, including

improve generation efficiency relative to conventional pulverized

support for using multiple grades of coal, acquisition of scale-up

coal-fired power generation systems, and is the ultimate power

data, technological enhancements for improved cost-efficiency,generation system, with power generation efficiency exceeding

as well as system verification. With a view to achieving the55%. EAGLE plants using oxygen-blown coal gasifiers produce

development targets ahead of schedule, these challenges havecoal-gasified gas with a substantially lower proportion of non-CO

already been addressed. EAGLE technology can be effectively

and H2 gas components (i.e., N2 and other gases). Utilization ofused in integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power

this gas allows the efficient production of liquid fuels or chemical

generation systems, which combine gas turbine generation

feedstocks.

systems and steam turbine generation systems, or in an

In the U.S., there is a proposed project to combine a hydrogen

integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined-cycle system

gas turbine generation system or a fuel cell power generation(IGFC). This may be the ultimate triple-combined-cycle based onsystem that uses coal-derived hydrogen with a CO2 separation,

combining IGCC with fuel cells. IGFC is expected to dramaticallycollection and segregation system. EAGLE technology is not only
expected to meet the future demands of a hydrogen society, butis also expected to meet the demands of today.

Syngas cooler

Gasifier

Gas refining

FilterCoalNitrogen

AirOxygen

HRSG
Expansion turbineFCCompressor
Steam turbine
Heatrecoveryboiler

Circulation
blowerCirculation
blower

Gas turbine

Air

Catalyst burner

Photo 1 Pilot test facilities

Fig. 2 IGFC systemReference1) Masao Sotooka: Coal Gasification Technology (II) — Multi-purpose (Fuel-cell) Coal Gasification Technology Development (EAGLE),
The Japan Institute of Energy, Vol.82, No. 11, pp. 836-840, November 2003.
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