Chemical-looping combustion of solid fuels – Status of development

Chemical-looping combustion (CLC) of solid fuels is a technology with the potential of reducing the costs and energy penalty dramatically for CO2 capture. The potential for low costs is based on the similarity to coal combustion in fluidized beds. However, this assumes reaching high performance with respect to fuel and gas conversion, or that inadequate performance can be readily mitigated by downstream options. There are uncertainties with respect to the performance that can be reached in large-scale units, as well as with the extra costs needed to compensate for inadequate performance. Performance will be dependent on both reactor design and oxygen carrier properties. The status of chemical-looping combustion of solid fuels is discussed with respect to performance and experiences from pilot operation.