Modelling a Calciner with High Inlet Oxygen Concentration for a Calcium Looping Process

A calcium looping (CaL) process is a carbon capture technology which utilizes calcium oxide to remove carbon dioxide from the flue gas of a power plant. Like most capture technologies, CaL process has a high energy demand, which reduces power plant efficiency. The energy penalty and the operating and capital costs of the unit can be reduced by increasing the concentration of O2 in the oxidant flow to calciner. In this study, a calciner has been studied with a three dimensional, steady-state, CFB process model. First, the model was validated by test data of the calciner in la Pereda CaL pilot. Next, a 3D model was created for a 200 MWth commercial scale calciner, in which the inlet oxygen concentration was increased up to 75% to map the potentials of improving the heat balance of the system and to investigate how the calciner operates in these conditions. Based on the simulations, the CaL process is feasible even at very high inlet oxygen concentration.