Study of an Iron-Based Oxygen Carrier on the Moving Bed Chemical Looping System

Abstract

The Industrial Technology Research Institute has developed a 30 kWth moving bed chemical looping system for hydrogen production. Methane is supplied as a fuel to the reducer, and steam is supplied to the oxidizer to produce hydrogen. An iron-based oxygen carrier is used circulating between the reactors. In this study, the mechanical strength, attrition rate, and conversion rate of the oxygen carrier were tested at two Fe2O3 levels of content (40 and 60 wt %) calcined at temperatures of 1100 and 1300 °C. The oxygen carrier with the lower iron content presented the higher conversion rate of 72% at both calcination temperatures. The mechanical strength (170.5 N) and attrition rate (0.3%) of the oxygen carrier with a low Fe2O3 content were higher at the higher calcination temperature. Further, the oxygen carriers were circulated in the 30 kWth moving bed chemical looping system under ambient and high-temperature conditions. The oxygen carrier with two Fe2O3 content levels (40 and 60 wt %) at the calcination t...