Engineering design and numerical design for chemical looping combustion reactor: A review

Abstract

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) has emerged as a cost-effective technology for carbon capture at the combustion source. The reactor, being central to the implementation of CLC, primarily adheres to two technological pathways: the dual fluidized bed reactor and the packed bed reactor. However, the intricate interaction between gas-solid reaction flow and heat/mass transfer processes in these reactors gives rise to diverse operational principles at both macroscopic and microscopic levels across various reactor forms and scales, making performance prediction challenging. Consequently, the rational design of CLC reactors poses a significant challenge in advancing this technology to commercial viability. This article offers an extensive review of the prevailing reactor designs in CLC, delving into reactor characteristics, pivotal aspects of the design process, methodologies, and representative studies in the field. The predominant reactor design approaches are categorized into engineering and numerical methods. The former encompasses phenomenological and similarity analysis methods, whereas the latter consists of macroscopic and computational fluid dynamics simulation methods. Each method possesses its theoretical framework, distinctive characteristics, appropriate applications, and respective advantages and limitations. In practical applications, integrating these aspects is essential. For instance, the engineering design, which is less costly but also less precise, is effective for quickly screening numerous potential design scenarios. In contrast, the numerical design, despite its higher computational demand and greater model complexity, offers improved predictive accuracy and is optimal for validating and refining engineering design solutions.