50-kWth methane/air chemical looping combustion tests with commercially prepared CuO-Fe2O3-alumina oxygen carrier with two different techniques. (1st March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Siriwardane, Ranjani; Riley, Jarrett; Bayham, Samuel; Straub, Douglas; Tian, Hanjing; Weber, Justin; Richards, George
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 213(2018)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2018-03-01
• Subjects: Chemical looping combustion of methane -- CLC with commercially prepared oxygen carrier -- CL circulating fluidized bed combustor -- CuO-Fe2O3/alumina oxygen carrier; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.01.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Successful large-scale scale preparation of CuO-Fe2 O3 /alumina oxygen carrier using two different manufacturing methods. Promising results from chemical looping combustion (CLC) test rig are reported. No agglomeration of solids was observed. 1.6 h of test-rig CLC operation with no external heat added to the solid path (i.e., auto-thermal operation) Abstract: CuO-Fe2 O3 /alumina oxygen carriers were manufactured using two different techniques (i.e., spray drying and wet granulation). The spray drying method produced porous, spherical particles in the range of 100–200 µm. The wet granulation, or tumbling method, produced particles in the range of 200–600 µm. Both batches of material showed good gas conversion and particle durability during tests in NETL's 50-kWth chemical looping circulating fluidized bed combustor unit at 700–900 °C. No agglomeration was observed, even though the oxygen carrier had a high CuO concentration (30%). The particle losses with 200–600 µm batch were significantly lower than that with the 100–200 µm batch. The oxygen carrier materials in the 200–600 µm range were circulated for approximately 3.1 days in the target temperature range (700–850 °C) and a total of approximately 40 h of chemical looping combustion testing was conducted during that time. The average fuel reactor temperatures ranged from 760 to 815 °C for the chemical looping combustion test periods, and the average air reactor temperature ranged from 840 to 915 °C. The fuel conversion from natural gas to CO2 ranged from 50 to 80%. Approximately 1.6 h of continuous operation was achieved with no gas preheat and no natural gas augmented heating. During this test period, the average fuel reactor temperature ranged from 780 to 825 °C, the air reactor temperature ranged from 930 to 960 °C, and the natural gas to CO2 conversion ranged from 50 to 65%. Analysis of the oxygen carrier after the test indicated that there were no significant changes in the particle size or the surface morphology.