| Description |
Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) is a low energy penalty carbon capture technology that has the potential to replace current high carbon emission power plants. In CLOU, an oxygen carrier is utilized to provide the oxygen for the combustion of fuel, often utilizing a dual fluidized system. In the so-called air reactor, a metal oxide is oxidized with ambient air. The oxygen carrier is then transferred to the fuel reactor where it is exposed to a low partial pressure of oxygen resulting in the release of gaseous oxygen, which is used to combust the fuel. The reduced oxygen carrier is then returned to the air reactor completing the loop. This dissertation explores the initial steps to perform scale-up to a demonstration plant. The first three chapters of results focus on the validation of the commercial CFD code Barracuda VR® for a dual fluidized bed reactor. Experimental work on a cold-flow unit was performed and utilized to determine the required drag, momentum retention, and particle parameters to match the circulation rate, pressure profiles, and bed mass location. The hydrodynamics matched well for most cases of the cold-flow unit. Next, verification/validation of the chemical reactions was performed. The experimental data for the oxidation and reduction of copper oxide matched the modeled reaction rates. The combustion reactions were also explored, and it was determined that two-step combustion reactions and volatiles were required to obtain a stable solution. Also, the cases showed that gasification was sometimes necessary to obtain a stable solution. iv These validated hydrodynamics and reactions were incorporated into a simulation of the process development unit (PDU) to determine the carbon capture efficiency. The carbon capture efficiency was found to be >90%. The PDU simulations also showed a similar energy balance to that found in the Aspen Plus modeling, which is that the air reactor and fuel reactor, in CLOU, can be operated at the same temperature or with the air reactor at a higher temperature. These simulations though not validated are consistent with the modeling performed. The simulations show that CLOU has the potential to successfully capture carbon and produce energy. |
