Analysis of a process to capture the CO2 resulting from the pre-calcination of the limestone feed to a cement plant

This work analyzes a new CaCO3 pre-calcination method aimed at CO2 production in a highly concentrated form. The method is based on the use of very hot stream of CaO particles that transfer heat from a circulating fluidized bed combustor (CFBC) to the calciner (fluidized with CO2). The aim of this work is to present a case study of the integration of the main units in the capture system: the CFB combustor, the fluidized bed calciner, and the CO2 compressor for the application of the system to a reference cement plant. It is shown that it might be possible to avoid around 50% of the CO2 emissions associated to the cement manufacture process.