Patent ID: 7856829

Claim:
A method of generating electrical power comprising: generating a synthesis gas stream in a gasifier; partially oxidizing the synthesis gas stream in at least one partial oxidation stage to oxidize a volatile content of the synthesis gas stream and to heat the synthesis gas stream, the at least one partial oxidation stage formed by an oxygen transport membrane reactor generating oxygen to support the partial oxidation of the synthesis gas stream; expanding the synthesis gas stream in an expander of at least one expansion stage after having been heated in the at least one partial oxidation stage and generating electrical power from a generator coupled to the expander; combusting the synthesis gas stream, after having been expanded, within an oxygen transport membrane boiler to generate heat and a flue gas, the synthesis gas stream being combusted while at an elevated temperature; the flue gas containing carbon dioxide; the combusting of the synthesis gas stream supported by separating additional oxygen from an oxygen containing stream within an oxygen transport membrane system operatively associated with a boiler within the oxygen transport membrane boiler; producing steam within the boiler by indirectly transferring the heat to boiler feed water; extracting energy from the steam by a steam turbine system of a steam cycle operatively associated with the oxygen transport membrane boiler and converting the energy to additional electrical power by an additional electrical generator coupled to the steam turbine system; and purifying the flue gas stream to produce a carbon dioxide-rich stream.