Project objectives
The project objectives are integrated in world top research in fields of energy conversion (fossil and renewable) with CCS. The project has the following main objectives:
Investigation of thermo-chemical energy conversion processes (gasification, catalytic reforming, combustion) of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources (biomass / solid wastes) into power and hydrogen simultaneous with CO2 capture using innovative chemical looping methods;
Evaluation of chemical looping process conditions in term of: oxygen carriers, reactors designs, operational conditions (p, T, reactant ratios), conversion rates, hydrodynamic aspects etc.;
Development of complex mathematical models to describe physical & chemical phenomena which take place in energy conversion processes with chemical looping CO2 capture. The mathematical models will be then simulated with ChemCAD, Aspen, GT-Pro, Thermoflex etc.;
Optimization of energy efficiency by better integration of CO2 capture process within energy conversion scheme, thermal and power integration within the plant, flexibility evaluation of proposed innovative schemes, analysis of combined cycle gas turbine using hydrogen as a fuel, operational evaluation of poly-generation systems with carbon capture in full load and part-load;
Techno-economical evaluations of CO2 capture from thermo-chemical conversion of primarily fuels. In addition, the project will evaluate quality specification for captured CO2 considering the requirements of transport network and different storage options (EOR, ECBM, etc);
Environmental impact of carbon capture plant compared with the existing situation without carbon capture. The impact will be evaluated by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) considering not only the plant operation but also commissioning and decommissioning periods using GaBi4 software.
Project workplan
| Year | Objective/Milestones |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Definition of main design characteristics of energy vectors poly-generation with chemical looping capture (capacity, flexibility, etc) |
| Characterization of the feedstock (natural gas, coal, biomass and solid waste) to be evaluated within the project | |
| 2012 | Systematization analysis of the most efficient syngas production systems suitable for chemical looping carbon dioxide capture |
| Evaluation of syngas pre-treatment options, as pre-requisite conditions for syngas-based chemical looping methods | |
| Characterization of syngas-based chemical looping carbon dioxide capture (oxygen carriers, process conditions, conversion rates, integration) | |
| Characterization of chemical looping carbon dioxide capture applied directly to gaseous and solid fuels (chemical looping combustion-CLC) | |
| 2013 | Characterization of chemical looping carbon dioxide capture by carbonation - calcination cycle to be used for capture from flue gas |
| Modeling, simulation and validation of innovative chemical looping carbon dioxide capture applied to syngas (gasification, reforming) | |
| 2014 | Modeling, simulation and validation of innovative chemical looping combustion (CLC) applied to gaseous and solid fuels |
| Modeling, simulation and validation of innovative chemical looping carbon dioxide capture by carbonation-calcination cycle | |
| 2015 | Techno-economical evaluations of chemical looping carbon dioxide capture applied for decarbonised energy vectors poly-generation |
| 2016 | Environmental impact evaluations (LCA) of chemical looping carbon dioxide capture applied for decarbonised energy vectors poly-generation |