Life cycle assessment and feasibility analysis of a combined chemical looping combustion and power-to-methane system for CO2 capture and utilization

Abstract

The ability to store effectively excess of electrical energy from peaks of production is key to the development of renewable energies. Power-To-Gas, and specifically Power-To-Methane represents one of the most promising option. This works presents an innovative process layout that integrates Chemical Looping Combustion of solid fuels and a Power-to-Methane system. The core of the proposed layout is a multiple interconnected fluidized bed system (MFB) equipped with a two-stage fuel reactor (t-FR). Performances of the system were evaluated by considering a coal as fuel and CuO supported on zirconia as oxygen carrier. A kinetic scheme comprising both heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions occurring in the MFB was considered. The methanation unit was modelled developing a thermodynamic calculation method based on minimization of the free Gibbs energy. The performance of the system was evaluated by considering that the CO/CO2 stream coming from the t-FR reacts over Ni supported on alumina catalyst with a pure H2 stream generated by an array of electrolysis cells. The number of cells to be stacked in the array was evaluated by considering that a constant H2 production able to convert the whole CO/CO2 stream produced by the CLC process should be attained. The environmental performance of the proposed process was quantified using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The analysis shows i) that the majority originate from the production and disposal of the oxygen carrier used in the t-FR, and ii) that reusing part of the oxygen produced by the electrolysis cells improves significantly the environmental performance of the proposed process.

Continuous selective deoxygenation of palm oil for renewable diesel production over Ni catalysts supported on Al2O3and La2O3–Al2O3

“…Moreover, there is almost unanimous agreement amongst the scientic community that the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere leads to climate change at a scale that threatens the very survival of the biosphere, including the human species. [1][2][3] One way to reduce CO 2 emissions is to replace petro-based sources in transportation with biofuels, as the sector uses nearly 40% of global primary energy. 4 An important renewable resource for the production of green liquid fuels are triglycerides, which consist of C 8 -C 24 fatty acids, the main components of vegetable oils and animal fats; these are usually used for the production of biodiesel, a mixture of Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAMEs).…”

“…However, while HDO is highly selective to diesel-like hydrocarbons it also requires high H 2 pressures (mostly available only in centralized facilities), and the use of sulfated catalysts (which can contaminate the nal product with sulfur). On the other hand, deCO (2a) and (2b) and deCO 2 (3) are mildly endothermic reactions that produce a saturated hydrocarbon product with one carbon atom less than the corresponding fatty acid bound in the triglyceride, as oxygen is removed in the form of CO and CO 2 , respectively. The deCO and deCO 2 reactions are quite difficult to distinguish, as CO 2 and CO react with H 2 on the surface of the catalyst.…”

CO2 Utilization Technologies in Europe: A Short Review

“…It thus enables to store large amounts of renewable energy in existing natural gas grid storage system, and can be directly used in most of endothermic engines and other well‐established natural gas facilities. [ 42 ] Recently, the hydrogenation of CO 2 to light olefins has acquired a growing interest, as they are useful base substances for polymer production. [ 43 ] Beyond CO 2 hydrogenation, electrochemical transformation of CO 2 has also gained great attention.…”

Techno-Economic Assessment of Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plants with Carbon Capture and Utilization

“…20 In addition, the concept of power-to-methane integrated with a chemical looping cycle was reported for simultaneous CCU. 21 On the other hand, the techno-economic analysis of CO 2 conversion was conducted in a process scale using the standard parameters for CO 2 capture. 22−24 Recently, a techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment were simultaneously performed for an integrated system using sorption-enhanced methanation.…”