Computer models help green up coal power

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy awarded software company Reaction Design a project to develop a computer simulation for zero-emission coal power plants.

Reaction Design won one of seven Department of Energy awards to support the development of coal-based power technology with near-zero emissions.

The San Diego-based company said it would develop gasification and reaction kinetics simulation software to tackle engineering and operator challenges during the lifecycle of a power plant.

Bernie Rosenthal, the chief executive officer of Reaction Design, explained it was critical to examine efficiency and environmental challenges for fossil-based fuels.

"This project builds our proven successes in using high-fidelity chemical-kinetics modeling to analyze complex systems, such as combustion in engines used for transportation and gas turbine-based power generation systems," he said.

An integrated gasification cycle with carbon capture in coal-fired plants is an environmentally friendly option, though technological improvements are needed to make it feasible.