Research Project Profile

Hydrodynamic and Internal Diffusion Effects in Chemical Looping Combustion

PI: P. A Ramachandran, Washington University in St. Louis
Co-PIs: S. Lim, CSIRO Australia

Project summary

What is Chemical-Looping-Combustion (CLC)?

• Two interconnected reactors, (air reactor and a fuel reactor) are used as shown in the figure.
• A metal oxide is used as an oxygen carrier for the fuel.
• Reduced metal is then returned to the air reactor for reoxidation.
• This avoids mixing or dilution of combustion products with nitrogen, thereby providing directly concentrated ’sequestration ready stream of with a high CO2 content
• Process appears to be cost effective since separation costs are reduced but need detailed engineering models to assess the potential of this technology and optimum process conditions.

Project Goals

• Study the role of the particle residence time on the chemical looping combustion reactor performance.
• Examine the role of intraparticle diffusion on the operating character of the recirculating system.
• Develop a phenomenological model for two inter-connected reactors as shown in the diagram.