Chemical looping combustion of polyurethane and polypropylene in an annular dual-tube moving bed reactor with iron-based oxygen carrier

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) and polypropylene (PP) particles were evaluated as solid fuels in chemical looping combustion (CLC) for treatment of waste plastics as well as power generation. An annular duel-tube moving bed reactor (ADMBR) was used as fuel reactor for decomposition and combustion of PU and PP particles. CO and H2 were the major components of fuel gas generated by decomposition of PU and PP particles in the ADMBR. Complete conversion of plastic particles and 100% CO2 yield of fuel gas were achieved as oxygen carrier-to-fuel ratio of PU and PP particles reached 1.86 and 6.56, respectively. The heat demands for ADMBR were calculated to be 21% and 52% of output processing capacity by heat consumptions of fuel decomposition in the fuel reactor of CLC system, respectively. ADMBR is technically feasible as fuel reactor for PU and PP combustion to achieve high conversion efficiency without auxiliary fuel by CLC.