Capturing CO2 from combustion flue gases with a carbonation calcination loop. Experimental results and process development

Abstract

Post-combustion carbonate looping processes are based on the capture of CO2 from the flue gases of an existing power plant in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor of CaO (the carbonator) at around 650 ∘C. The calcination of CaCO3 in a new oxy-fired experimental results from a small test facility (30 kWt) operated in continuous mode using two interconnected CFB reactors as carbonator and calciner. Capture efficiencies between 70 and 97% have been obtained under realistic flue gas conditions in the carbonator reactor. The similarity between process conditions and those existing in CFBC power plants should allow a rapid scaling up of this technology.