Analysis and comparison of reactivity and CO₂ capture capacity of fresh calcium-based sorbents and samples from a lab-scale dual fluidized bed calcium looping facility

Naturally occurring limestone and samples from a lab-scale dual fluidized bed (DFB) calcium looping test facility were analyzed in a thermogravimetric analyzer. The reactivity of the samples evaluated at typical carbonation conditions prevailed in the carbonator was compared with raw samples. The rate of carbonation and carbonation capacity of the samples were compared with respect to the following three categories: number of calcination-carbonation cycles, carbonation temperature, and CO₂ concentration. It is suspected that the much lower activity of the DFB sample is attributed to the differences in experimental conditions, i.e., partial carbonation of the DFB particles, fast heating rate in the calciner and thus a rapid calcination reaction, and particle attrition in the circulating fluidized bed calciner riser. These harsh conditions lead to sintering and thus a loss of surface area and reactivity. Sintered DFB samples showed low (nearly one-third of the raw samples) but stable conversions with increasing number of cycles. Hydration was used as an attempt to regenerate the lost capture capacity of partially carbonated and sintered DFB sample. Hydration of the DFB sample was successful in increasing the maximum capture capacity in the fast reaction regime to values almost as high as that of a fresh sample in its first carbonation cycle. Although more investigation is required to investigate the effect of hydration on the CaO particle morphology, a process modification to enhance the CO ₂ capture efficiency of the carbonator via particle hydration was proposed.