Exergoenvironmental analysis of the Allam cycle

Abstract

The Allam cycle is an oxy-combustion power generation cycle. In this study, an exergoenvironmental analysis is applied to investigate the environmental impact of the Allam cycle. The life cycle assessment is conducted using three indicators: CO2 equivalent, Eco-indicator 99, and Cumulative Exergy Consumption. The findings show that the combustor has the highest environmental impact related to the exergy destruction, followed by the turbine and the regenerator. However, the combustor's role helps reduce the overall environmental impact of the Allam cycle by converting methane into carbon dioxide through combustion. The relative environmental impact differences between the main compressor and the pumps are high, suggesting that the environmental impacts of these components can be reduced with relatively low effort.