Patent ID: 8196387

Claim:
An apparatus for generating electrical power comprising: a gasifier for generating a synthesis gas stream; at least one partial oxidation stage configured to partially oxidize the synthesis gas stream and thereby oxidize a volatile content of the synthesis gas stream and to heat the synthesis gas stream, the at least one partial oxidation stage having an oxygen transport membrane reactor configured to generate oxygen to support the partial oxidation of the synthesis gas stream; at least one expansion stage having an expander for expanding the synthesis gas stream after having been heated in the at least one partial oxidation stage and a generator coupled to the expander for generating electrical power; an oxygen transport membrane boiler in flow communication with the at least one expansion stage and configured to generate: heat from combustion of the synthesis gas stream while at an elevated temperature; a flue gas containing carbon dioxide from the combustion of the synthesis gas stream; and steam through indirect heat transfer of the heat to boiler feed water; the oxygen transport membrane boiler having an oxygen transport membrane system operatively associated with a boiler, the oxygen transport membrane system configured to separate additional oxygen from an oxygen containing stream and support the combustion of the synthesis gas stream with the additional oxygen and the boiler configured to produce the steam by the indirect transfer of the heat to the boiler feed water; a steam cycle operatively associated with the oxygen transport membrane boiler and having a steam turbine system to extract energy from the steam; an additional electrical generator coupled to the steam turbine system to convert the energy to additional electrical power; and a purification system configured to purify the flue gas stream to produce a carbon dioxide-rich stream.