Innovative energy conversion systems by chemical looping : conceptual design, modeling and simulation, thermal integration and performance evaluation

Abstract

Development of efficient and environmental friendly technologies for fossil fuels conversion is of great importance in the modern society. Along this line, the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies are important for transition to a low carbon economy. Chemical looping methods attracted much attention in the last decade as a promising energy conversion system able to deliver high energy efficiency coupled with inherent CO2 capture. This paper evaluates the power generation as well as energy vectors poly-generation systems based on chemical looping systems with almost total decarbonisation (carbon capture rate higher than 95%) of the used fuel. As illustrative example, an iron-based chemical looping system was assessed in various configurations using both gaseous and solid fuels. To illustrate the poly-generation systems, hydrogen & power and Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) & power co-generation cases were considered as examples. The evaluated chemical looping-based systems generate about 400 - 500 MW net power with a flexible hydrogen output in the range of 0 to 200 MWth (lower heating value - LHV). The SNG and power co-generation case evaluated an 800 MWth SNG thermal output (LHV) with a limited power output.