skip to main content


Title: Dynamic Simulation of Fixed‐Bed Chemical‐Looping Combustion Reactors Integrated in Combined Cycle Power Plants
Abstract

Chemical‐looping combustion (CLC) is a promising and efficient method for power generation with in situ CO2capture. In this work, we focus on high‐pressure fixed‐bed CLC reactors integrated with combined cycle (CC) power plants. Specifically, the dynamic nature of fixed‐bed chemical‐looping reactors and the many kinetically controlled reactions necessitate the use of dynamic modeling to evaluate power plant performance, efficiency, stability, and feasibility under transient operation. We present a dynamic model for an integrated CLC–CC power plant and transient analyses of the integrated plant performance. A network of dynamically operated fixed‐bed reactors fed with natural gas comprises the CLC plant component. A dynamic model is developed and tuned to match the performance of a commercial combined cycle power plant. The transient variations of the integrated plant in terms of power, temperature, and pressure profiles are presented. The simulation results show that despite the inherent batch‐type operation of the CLC reactor, the operation of the combined cycle is relatively unaffected, and there are small oscillations of approximately 2 % around the desired steady‐state conditions.

 
more » « less
PAR ID:
10238463
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Energy Technology
Volume:
4
Issue:
10
ISSN:
2194-4288
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 1209-1220
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Process intensification options are explored for near‐carbon‐neutral, natural‐gas‐fueled combined cycle (CC) power plants, wherein the conventional combustor is replaced by a series of chemical‐looping combustion (CLC) reactors. Dynamic modeling and optimization are deployed to design CLC‐CC power plants with optimal configuration and performance. The overall plant efficiency is improved by optimizing the CLC reactor design and operation, and modifying the CC plant configuration and design. The optimal CLC‐CC power plant has a time‐averaged efficiency of 52.52% and CO2capture efficiency of 96%. The main factor that limits CLC‐CC power plant efficiency is the reactor temperature, which is constrained by the oxygen carrier material. CLC exhaust gas temperature during heat removal and gas compressor to gas turbine pressure ratio are the most important operating variables and if properly tuned, CLC‐CC power plants can reach high thermodynamic efficiencies. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical EngineersAIChE J, 65: e16516 2019

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) is a technology that efficiently combines power generation and CO 2 capture. In CLC, the fuel is oxidized by a metal oxide called an oxygen carrier (OC). CLC uses two reactors: a fuel reactor and an air reactor. The fuel reactor oxidizes the fuel and reduces the OC. The air reactor oxidizes the OC using air and then the OC is cycled back to the fuel reactor. It is typical for both the fuel and the air reactors to be fluidized beds (FBs). In this research, an Aspen Plus model was developed to simulate a CLC system. Aspen Plus has recently included a built-in FB unit operation module. To our knowledge, no literature has been reported using this FB module for simulating fluidized bed combustion or gasification. This FB unit process was investigated in Aspen Plus and a kinetic based model was used and compared the simulation results to experimental data and the commonly used Gibbs equilibrium model. The FB unit and the kinetic model well fit the experimental data for syngas and methane combustion within 2% of the molar composition of syngas combustion and within 4% for the methane combustion. An advantage of this model over other kinetic models in literature is that the core shrinking model kinetic rate equations have been converted into a power law form. This allows Aspen Plus to use a calculator instead of an external Fortran compiler. This greatly simplifies the modeling process. The reaction rate equations are given for all reactions. A sensitivity analysis of the reaction kinetics was conducted. All data, code, and simulation files are given. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Affordable synthetic ammonia (NH3) enables the production of nearly half of the food we eat and is emerging as a renewable energy carrier. Sodium‐promoted chemical looping NH3synthesis at atmospheric pressure using manganese (Mn) is here demonstrated. The looping process may be advantageous when inexpensive renewable hydrogen from electrolysis is available. Avoiding the high pressure of the Haber‐Bosch process by chemical looping using earth‐abundant materials may reduce capital cost, facilitate intermittent operation, and allow operation in geographic areas where infrastructure is less sophisticated. At this early stage, the data suggest that 0.28 m3of a 50 % porosity solid Mn bed may suffice to produce 100 kg NH3per day by chemical looping, with abundant opportunities for improvement.

     
    more » « less
  4. Direct conversion of methane into ethylene through the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is a technically important reaction. However, conventional co-fed fixed-bed OCM reactors still face serious challenges in conversion and selectivity. In this paper, we apply a finite element model to simulate OCM reaction in a plug-flow CO2/O2transport membrane (CTM) reactor with a directly captured CO2and O2mixture as a soft oxidizer. The CTM is made of three phases: molten carbonate, 20% Sm-doped CeO2, and LiNiO2. The membrane parameters are first validated by CO2/O2flux data obtained from CTM experiments. The OCM reaction is then simulated along the length of tubular plug-flow reactors filled with a La2O3-CaO-modified CeO2catalyst bed, while a mixture of CO2/O2is gradually added through the wall of the tubular membrane. A 12-step OCM kinetic mechanism is considered in the model for the catalyst bed and validated by data obtained from a co-fed fixed-bed reactor. The modeled results indicate a much-improved OCM performance by membrane reactor in terms of C2-yield and CH4conversion rate over the state-of-the-art, co-fed, fixed-bed reactor. The model further reveals that improved performance is fundamentally rooted in the gradual methane conversion with CO2/O2offered by the plug-flow membrane reactor.

     
    more » « less
  5. To cut CO2emissions, we propose to directly convert shale gas into value-added products with a new H2/O2co-transport membrane (HOTM) reactor. A Multiphysics model has been built to simulate the membrane and the catalytic bed with parameters obtained from experimental validation. The model was used to compare C2 yield and CH4conversion rate between the membrane reactor and the state-of-the-art fixed-bed reactor with the same dimensions and operating conditions. The results indicate that (1) the membrane reactor is more efficient in consuming CH4for a given amount of fed O2. (2) The C2 selectivity of the membrane reactor is higher due to the gradual addition of O2into the reactor. (3) The current proposed membrane reactor can have a decent proton molar flux density but most of the proton molar flux will contribute to producing H2O on the feed side under the current operating conditions. The paper for the first-time projects the performance of the membrane reactor for combined H2O/H2removal and C2 production. It could be used as important guidance for experimentalists to design next generation natural gas conversion reactors.

     
    more » « less