Understanding of chemical looping with autothermal operation

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is under development fuel combustion, an art of technology in terms of less energy penalty for CO2 removal. In addition to the oxygen carrier development, the autothermal operation is another key for success of CLC, which is mainly determined by a difference heat of combustion per mole O-2 between the fuel and oxygen carrier (dQ(Fuel-OC)). Ideally, the developed OC should have dQ(Fuel-OC > 0), that is, the coupling of OC-fuel needs to be evaluated at the beginning to check the feasibility of autothermal operation. The advantages and developments of CLC have been well-reviewed by Henderson and recently by Lyngfelt, Abuelgasim et al., Abdalla et al., and Adanez-Rubio et al., as well as handbook. In this communication, the feasibility of autothermal operation of CLC is systematically analyzed. The selection OC to couple with fuel, capacity of OC, impact of OC support materials, circulation rate of OC (mass and heat), heat-up feeds, impact of aeration gas, reaction kinetics, and operation of CLC are discussed, aimed at providing some insights and approaches in the development of OC, which is, in any situation, fuel-determined. More attention is needed so that CLC process can be operated in an autothermal mode and scaled up commercially in the future for CO2 removal.

Automated summary

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a fuel combustion technology that has less energy penalty for CO2 removal. This study systematically analyzes the feasibility of autothermal operation in CLC and discusses the selection of oxygen carrier, capacity and impact of support materials, circulation rate, heat-up feeds, aeration gas, reaction kinetics, and CLC operation, aiming to provide insights and approaches for the development of oxygen carriers.