Biomass direct chemical looping process: A perspective

This paper provides a perspective on the biomass direct chemical looping (BDCL) scheme which directly converts biomass into hydrogen and/or electricity with CO2 capture. The discussion involves the preliminary design, potential challenges, and feasibility assessments in the BDCL process. Description of the BDCL process and the characteristics of biomass are provided in order to discuss potential advantage and disadvantage that may occur in this system. The feasibility of employing the BDCL process based on preliminary studies relative to competing biomass technologies and conventional fossil fuel conversion schemes is also discussed based on the perspective of energy conversion efficiencies, and economic analysis. Biomass has proven to be less efficient and more cost intensive compared to the current fossil fuel processes, due to its relatively low energy density, high moisture content and distributed-resource. However, the BDCL process has the potential to compete against conventional energy generation systems via its high conversion efficiency. A preliminary economic analysis demonstrates that BDCL system integrated with CCS to receive carbon credit is capable of producing electricity at a competitive price to the current fossil fuel processes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.