Prompt considerations on the design of Chemical-Looping Combustion of coal from experimental tests

► A prompt evaluation of the CLC performance with coal is drawn from experimental work. ► Ilmenite is the oxygen carrier, and increases its reactivity during the initial redox cycles. ► The gasification rate raised by the increase of ilmenite reactivity during activation period. ► For the sub-bituminous coal investigated, steam is preferred as gasification agent than CO2. ► An optimized system should include a carbon stripper and a solids inventory of 500-1000 kg/MWth.