Chemical Looping and Plasma Technologies for Gasification of Coal and Biomass

Abstract

Gasification of solid fuels exhibits a vital role in power plants for electricity generation using gas turbines, fuel cells and for various chemical productions such as hydrogen, methanol, liquid hydrocarbons, etc. Chemical looping combustion (CLC) and plasma gasification are the recent emerging advanced technologies for the production of clean energy from solid fuels. CLC operation eliminates the energy penalty of air separation unit (ASU) in an oxy-fuel combustion unit and paves a way for carbon capture and storage. Another promising technology for the conversion of solid fuel into syngas is plasma gasification. Tar-free syngas with high-calorific value can be obtained in this technology. Further, co-gasification of coal and biomass is another option to utilize renewable energy, which reduces a considerable amount of greenhouse gas emission. In this chapter, the conversion efficiencies of solid fuels such as coal and biomass in the CLC technology are compared with liquid and gaseous fuels. The complexity of solid fuel-based CLC operation and future research scope of the CLC technology are discussed. Also, the percentage conversion of solid fuels and CO2 yield in pilot plant-scale CLC experiments is reviewed. The syngas composition and carbon conversion efficiency of plasma gasification are compared for biomass and coal. The feasibility of co-utilization of coal and biomass in these gasification technologies is also explained.