CFD simulation of fuel reactor for chemical looping combustion of Indian coal

Abstract

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is an energy efficient technology to separate CO2 from the flue gases. It has been accepted globally as one of the promising methods to control the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and there by helps to provide a sustainable solution to the environmental crisis. CLC basically consists of two reactors – fuel and air reactors. Fuel reactor of the CLC process is considered for the present study and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of the fuel reactor for high ash (Indian) coal are presented. Various oxygen carriers like Fe2O3, CuO and the combination of these metal oxides are considered for the study. The reactions involving coal devolatilization, gasification and metal oxides reduction are incorporated. The conversion and performance of the reactor with each metal oxide is analysed and compared. The ash present in the coal is considered as non-reacting component and its effect on the flow and concentration of the species is analysed. The simulations are carried out at various temperatures. The obtained results are found to be justifiable and are discussed in detail.