Modelling of a calcium-looping fluidized bed reactor system for carbon dioxide removal from flue gas

Abstract

Calcium-looping process was simulated by solution of one-dimensional mass and energy balance equations for both interconnected fluidized bed reactors. Kinetics for the carbonator and calciner were derived from literature sources and were revised to include the effects of sulphation. The degree of apparent carbonation was compared to the actual level of carbon dioxide removal through a series of sensitivity analyses. It has been found that carbonation decreases with an increase in temperature. Sulphation increases with an increase in temperature. The activity of calcium oxide decreases with an increase in carbonation-calcination cycles. Neglecting the effect of sulphation during the design of the calcium-looping system leads to overestimation of active calcium particles that will react with carbon dioxide.