Solar Energy Driven Chemical Looping Air Separation

Year 2024, , 53 - 60, 01.04.2024

Yaşar Görkem Bak Deniz Uner

https://doi.org/10.58692/jotcsb.1404612

Abstract

Chemical looping is emerging as a feasible alternative to carry out reduction and oxidation processes under different process conditions. This technology proves especially useful when reduction and oxidation processes proceed with different time constants. With the possibility of incorporation of solar energy to the endothermic end of the process, chemical looping technology has recently become more popular. Chemical looping air separation (CLAS) is an alternative to cryogenic separation, by utilizing solar thermal energy. In this process a reducible metal oxide is heated to a temperature such that the metal releases its lattice oxygen. In the second step, the metal oxide is exposed to air and oxygen is captured by the oxide while pure nitrogen is released at the outlet and the loop is closed. Mn2O3 is selected as the oxygen carrier to perform chemical looping cycles. Oxygen mobility of the metal oxide and reversibility through redox cycles are tested with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The redox cycles are designed such that the air oxidizes, and the steam reduces the material. The reduction behavior of manganese (III) oxide under inert atmosphere is tested in TGA. It is proved that steam acts as an inert gas under the reaction conditions. The use of steam at the reduction stage results in a more convenient separation of the sweep gas (steam) from the oxygen released from the oxide. It is demonstrated that a redox cycle between Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 can be performed isothermally. The capability of the system to be coupled with solar energy makes it more alluring for environmentally friendly option seekers. The use of solar irradiation is tested with parabolic mirrors to observe the power output. Overall, CLAS process works on milder conditions which is crucial in reducing the energy and equipment costs, and its advantages regarding energy efficiency increase even more when solar energy is incorporated into the system.

Keywords

Chemical Looping Air Separation, Solar Energy, Sustainable Production

References

• Abad, A., Mattisson, T., Lyngfelt, A., & Rydén, M. (2006). Chemical-looping combustion in a 300 W continuously operating reactor system using a manganese-based oxygen carrier. Fuel, 85(9), 1174–1185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2005.11.014
• Adánez, J., Abad, A., Mendiara, T., Gayán, P., de Diego, L. F., & García-Labiano, F. (2018). Chemical looping combustion of solid fuels. In Progress in Energy and Combustion Science (Vol. 65, pp. 6–66). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2017.07.005
• Azimi, G., Leion, H., Rydén, M., Mattisson, T., & Lyngfelt, A. (2013). Investigation of different Mn-Fe oxides as oxygen carrier for chemical-looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU). Energy and Fuels, 27(1), 367–377. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef301120r
• Bulfin, B., Vieten, J., Agrafiotis, C., Roeb, M., & Sattler, C. (2017). Applications and limitations of two step metal oxide thermochemical redox cycles; A review. In Journal of Materials Chemistry A (Vol. 5, Issue 36, pp. 18951–18966). Royal Society of Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ta05025a
• Khan, M. I., Asfand, F., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2022). Progress in research and technological advancements of thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power. In Journal of Energy Storage (Vol. 55). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2022.105860
• Krzystowczyk, E., Haribal, V., Dou, J., & Li, F. (2021). Chemical Looping Air Separation Using a Perovskite-Based Oxygen Sorbent: System Design and Process Analysis. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 9(36), 12185–12195. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03612
• Mattisson, T., Lyngfelt, A., & Leion, H. (2009). Chemical-looping with oxygen uncoupling for combustion of solid fuels. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 3(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.06.002
• Moghtaderi, B. (2010). Application of chemical looping concept for air separation at high temperatures. Energy and Fuels, 24(1), 190–198. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef900553j
• Patil, V. R., Kiener, F., Grylka, A., & Steinfeld, A. (2021). Experimental testing of a solar air cavity-receiver with reticulated porous ceramic absorbers for thermal processing at above 1000 °C. Solar Energy, 214, 72–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.11.045
• Shah, K., Moghtaderi, B., & Wall, T. (2012). Selection of suitable oxygen carriers for chemical looping air separation: A thermodynamic approach. Energy and Fuels, 26(4), 2038–2045. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef300132c
• Shah, V., Jangam, K., Joshi, A., Mohapatra, P., Falascino, E., & Fan, L. (2022). The Role of Chemical Looping in Industrial Gas Separation. In Sustainable Separation Engineering (pp. 199–237). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119740117.ch5
• Shulman, A., Cleverstam, E., Mattisson, T., & Lyngfelt, A. (2011). Chemical - Looping with oxygen uncoupling using Mn/Mg-based oxygen carriers - Oxygen release and reactivity with methane. Fuel, 90(3), 941–950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2010.11.044
• Smith, A. R., & Klosek, J. (2001). A review of air separation technologies and their integration with energy conversion processes. In Fuel Processing Technology (Vol. 70). www.elsevier.comrlocaterfuproc
• Song, H., Shah, K., Doroodchi, E., Wall, T., & Moghtaderi, B. (2014). Reactivity of Al2O3- or SiO2-Supported Cu-, Mn-, and Co-based oxygen carriers for chemical looping air separation. Energy and Fuels, 28(2), 1284–1294. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef402268t
• Tao, Y., Tian, W., Kong, L., Sun, S., & Fan, C. (2022). Energy, exergy, economic, environmental (4E) and dynamic analysis based global optimization of chemical looping air separation for oxygen and power co-production. Energy, 261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.125365
• Tescari, S., Neumann, N. C., Sundarraj, P., Moumin, G., Rincon Duarte, J. P., Linder, M., & Roeb, M. (2022). Storing solar energy in continuously moving redox particles – Experimental analysis of charging and discharging reactors. Applied Energy, 308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118271
• Tesch, S., Morosuk, T., & Tsatsaronis, G. (2020). Comparative Evaluation of Cryogenic Air Separation Units from the Exergetic and Economic Points of View. In Low-temperature Technologies. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85765
• Wang, K., Yu, Q., Hou, L., Zuo, Z., Qin, Q., & Ren, H. (2016). Simulation and energy consumption analysis of chemical looping air separation system on Aspen Plus. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 124(3), 1555–1560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5237-9
• Wang, K., Yu, Q., & Qin, Q. (2013). The thermodynamic method for selecting oxygen carriers used for chemical looping air separation. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 112(2), 747–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-012-2596-8
• Wang, W., Zhang, B., Wang, G., & Li, Y. (2016). O2 release of Mn-based oxygen carrier for chemical looping air separation (CLAS): An insight into kinetic studies. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 16(2), 453–463. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2014.07.0140
• Wang, X., Shao, Y., & Jin, B. (2021). Thermodynamic evaluation and modelling of an auto-thermal hybrid system of chemical looping combustion and air separation for power generation coupling with CO2 cycles. Energy, 236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121431