Conference Dates
May 22-27, 2016
Abstract
Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) is a promising technique to achieve fuel combustion in a nitrogen free atmosphere, therefore giving the possibility to separate and store or use CO2. Several potential applications are considered in the field of power generation with gas, liquid and solid fuels. In the Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization (CCSU) context, energy penalty is reduced compared to other routes. In addition, other applications of Chemical Looping are considered in the field of H2 production or gasification for instance.
In the past years, a huge effort has been conducted worldwide to investigate CLC materials and process issues. In 2008, IFPEN and Total have started an ambitious collaboration to develop CLC applications. Nowadays, the CLC concept is well demonstrated at the pilot scale. The next step is to demonstrate the technology over time at larger scale. However, for further developments, the challenges are numerous and will be discussed, both on market and technical aspects.
- Short term market is limited. Uncertainties around CO2 emission market and storage issues are related to CO2 policy and public acceptance of storage which still must evolve in the right direction... Financing of demonstration units in this context is challenging and other applications of CLC have to be investigated.
- The industrial use of synthetic metal oxides or natural ores at large scale generates a lot of issues related to availability, price, waste disposal, health and safety, additionally to chemical and mechanical stability over time, reactivity, and oxygen transfer capacity.
- Chemical looping reactor and process technology concepts have to be explored, developed, modeled and scaled-up in order to ensure adequate power production together with good gas solid contact and reaction requirement, controlled circulation of mixtures of particle (oxygen carrier, ash, solid fuel for instance). All these points should be considered at very large scale for CCS applications in order to minimize energy penalty and cost in severe operating conditions (temperatures above 800°C and intense solid circulation).
Technical challenges remain to be solved and proven with large demonstration over long periods of time. In this context, research in the field of fluidization technology is essential and we will address a couple of key points already investigated at IFPEN and related to control of solid circulation, oxygen carrier attrition, conceptual design of CLC reactors and process performance.
Recommended Citation
Thierry Gauthier, M. Yazdanpanah, A. Forret, B. Amblard, A. Lambert, and S. Bertholin, "CLC, a promising concept with challenging development issues" in "Fluidization XV", Jamal Chaouki, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada Franco Berruti, Wewstern University, Canada Xiaotao Bi, UBC, Canada Ray Cocco, PSRI Inc. USA Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2016). https://dc.engconfintl.org/fluidization_xv/108