Thermodynamic Evaluation and Cold Flow Model Testing of an Indirectly Heated Carbonate Looping Process

Carbon capture with subsequent compression and storage is a promising possibility for the reduction of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generation. A very efficient post-combustion CO2 capture technology is the carbonate looping process. To further increase the process efficiency, a new concept is considered where the heat for calcination is transferred from an external combustor to the calciner by means of heat pipes. Some thermodynamic evaluations for a retrofit of a coal-fired host plant with the indirectly heated carbonate looping process and cold flow model tests of a 300-kWth test facility that will be erected in 2013 in Darmstadt are presented.