Rate Analysis of Chemical-Looping with Oxygen Uncoupling (CLOU) for Solid Fuels

Chemical-looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) offers a promise to reduce energy penalty by facilitating the capture of CO2 emitted from power plants. It has a potential to lower the oxygen carrier inventory of the fuel reactor in contrast to chemical-looping combustion (CLC). The primary mechanism in CLOU for the combustion of solid fuels is their reaction with gaseous oxygen released by the decomposition of a metal oxide, which differs from CLC of solid fuels where the solid fuel has to be gasified first. The slower gasification reaction in CLC is subsequently followed by combustion of the fuel with a circulating oxygen carrier. The present study is concerned with the rate analysis from reported batch fluidized bed CLOU experimental data of Mexican petcoke particles by a CuO/ZrO2 oxygen carrier. The methodology to determine the kinetic parameters for CuO decomposition and solid fuel oxidation during the fuel reactor stage and for Cu2O oxidation in the air reactor stage have been discussed. The results of the study are expected to help in the development of a process model for CLOU, furthering the development of a pilot scale process.