This paper examined and assessed various configuration options about emission removal including particles. SOx and NOx in an oxy-coal combustion system for CO2 capture. A performance analysis was conducted in order to understand the impacts of those options concerning process design, process operation and system efficiency. Results show that different flue gas recycle options have clear effects on the emissivity and absorptivity of radiating gases in boiler due to the change of flue gas compositions. The maximum difference amongst various options can be up to 15% and 20% for emissivity and absorptivity respectively. As a result, the heat transfer by radiation can vary about 20%. The recycle options also have impacts on the design of air heater and selective-catalytic-reduction (SCR) preheater. This is due to that the largely varied operating temperatures in different options may result in different required areas of heat exchangers. In addition, the dew point of flue gas and the boiler efficiency are affected by the configurations of flue gas recycle as well. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.