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Fig. 4 - Here a possible inte- mensional protein. Each enzyme catalyzes only a happen to strike as the 2 molecules collided; so
gration between a coal fired particular chemical reaction, but is an extremely usually 8 photons are needed by the plant.
power generation unit and a efficient catalyst for that reaction. In the photosyn-
petrochemical plant thetic process, plants use light energy to convert 4. Future technologies to
two stable, low-energy molecules (carbon dioxide allow the synergies between
Fig. 5 - Biorefinery and its and water) into an unstable, energy-rich system petrochemical plants and
role in the transformation of consisting of organic matter and free oxygen. a power generation plant
biomass (IEA report) The photosynthetic formation of glucose can be iAns cprloupdosiendgontehineterCesOtin2g utilization
represented by the following chemical equation: set
opportunity is to
6CO2 + 6H2O = (CH2O)6 + 6O2 Delta G = +684 kcal/mole
up a synergy between a refinery and a power gen-
In photosynthesis, energy is supplied by light quan-
ta (photons) whose energy content depends upon eration plant.
the frequency or wavelength of the light. In the red
light, one photon provides about 40 kcal of energy. While the modern petrochemical industry moved
To provide the 114 kcal needed to combine a mole
oarfeCnOe2edweitdh. a mole of H2O, at least three photons from coal to cheaper feedstock, coal could be in
There is a small probability that 3 photons would
future taken in due consideration as a high-value
carbon feedstock jointly with CO2 in competition
with crude oil and natural gas.
Asia could be interested to use new technologies
to produce chemicals from coal and also in this
area an utilization of tCakOe2njoinindtlyuewcithoncsoidael arasticoanr.bon
feedstock could be
Within figure 4 is indicated a possible integration
between a coal fired power generation unit and a
petrochemical plant.
Coal micronization (CM) technology [14] could help
the success of this integration.
This CM technology reduces coal size from 200 –
400 micron to about 5 micron allowing to separate
coal pollutants before to send it to the boiler and
obtaining also a better combustion.
Obviously the structure of this integrated plant
could change case by case according to the fos-
sil fuel feedstock and to the proposed power gen-
eration assets that could be coal fired conventional
plants, natural gas fired combined cycle plants etc.
28 Impiantistica Italiana - Luglio-Agosto 2016
