The emissions benefits of SCC are due to the premixing of natural gas and steam to create at smaller, cooler flame, resulting in less NO_x being produced while maintaining CO at acceptable levels. When the system is running at a 3:1 steam to fuel ratio, we are effectively running using a low Btu gas similar to that produced from a biomass gasification system. The combination of steam injection for power augmentation plus the ability to dilute the natural gas to supplement or replace the feed from the biomass system with the natural gas steam mixture allows optimal use of the fuel nozzles which are designed for a fixed mass flow.

Many biomass gasification systems are expecting to ultimately produce liquid fuel. At current gasoline prices, this is not economically justified. With the current 30% ITC grant program, SCC plus biomass gasification may make sense in some markets. POWER seeks to work with biomass companies that would like to partner.