Chemical looping combustion for power generation—Concept study for a 10 MWth demonstration plant

A semi-commercial 10 MWth chemical looping combustion (CLC) plant for power production is proposed as a next scale demonstration plant after successful operation of a 120 kW CLC pilot rig. The design criteria for the CLC boiler are derived from the experience obtained from the CLC pilot rig at Vienna University of Technology. The IPSEpro simulation environment is chosen for implementation of the process flow sheet of the CLC power plant. A single pressure steam cycle is suggested for this small scale demonstration plant. Heat exchangers and a five-stage steam turbine are arranged. Basic design parameters of the power plant are derived from detailed mass and energy investigations and discussed. It turns out that the net electric efficiency of such a small scale plant can be expected to be in the range of 32.5–35.8%. However, a demonstration of CLC at such a scale is necessary in order to gain confidence in more sophisticated CLC power generation concepts at larger scale.

► A semi-commercial 10MWth chemical looping combustion (CLC) plant for power production is proposed as a next scale demonstration plant.
► The design criteria for the CLC boiler are based on the experience from a 120kWDCFB CLC pilot rig located at Vienna University of Technology.
► A CLC model, validated by empirical measurements of the 120 kW pilot rig, is used to calculate basic design parameters.
► It turns out that the netelectric efficiency of such a small scale plant can be expected to be in the range of 32.5–35.8%.