Abstract
The combination of concentrated solar power–chemical looping air separation (CSP-CLAS) with an oxy-fuel combustion process for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is a novel system to generate electricity from solar power and biomass while being able to store solar power efficiently. In this study, the computer program Advanced System for Process Engineering Plus (ASPEN Plus) was used to develop models to assess the process performance of such a process with manganese (Mn)-based oxygen carriers on alumina (Al2O3) support for a location in the region of Seville in Spain, using real solar beam irradiance and electricity demand data. It was shown that the utilisation of olive tree prunings (Olea europaea) as the fuel—an agricultural residue produced locally—results in negative CO2 emissions (a net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere). Furthermore, it was found that the process with an annual average electricity output of 18 MW would utilise 2.43% of Andalusia’s olive tree prunings, thereby capturing 260.5 k-tonnes of CO2, annually. Drawbacks of the system are its relatively high complexity, a significant energy penalty in the CLAS process associated with the steam requirements for the loop-seal fluidisation, and the gas storage requirements. Nevertheless, the utilisation of agricultural residues is highly promising, and given the large quantities produced globally (~ 4 billion tonnes/year), it is suggested that other novel processes tailored to these fuels should be investigated, under consideration of a future price on CO2 emissions, integration potential with a likely electricity grid system, and based on the local conditions and real data.
Highlights
The primary driver of climate change is anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) (IPCC 2005)
We report the results of a dynamic simulation of a system that combines a Concentrated solar power (CSP)-chemical looping air separation (CLAS) process with an oxy-fuel combustion process for CO2 capture
It was calculated that the system is able to utilise 2.43% of Andalusia’s olive tree pruning production, thereby capturing 260.5 k-tonnes of CO2 per year and producing an average power output of 18 MW
Summary
The primary driver of climate change is anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) (IPCC 2005). Oxy-fuel combustion is a novel combustion process, which is based on the substitution of air with oxygen (O2)-enriched recycled flue gas during combustion. This results in the production of a CO2-rich stream. Co-based oxygen carriers are toxic and irreversibly react with oxides of sulphur (S) in the recycled flue gases to produce CoSO4 within the temperature range of a CLAS process (800–900 °C). The combination of a CSP-CLAS system with the combustion of biomass in oxy-fuel mode is the subject of this study This combined process would allow to achieve negative CO2 emissions as well as to storage solar energy in the form of O2-enriched CO2 for the operation of the BECCS plant at during the night-time. The considerations leading to the design of this process are described in detail in the sections below
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