Analysis of integrated CO2 capture and utilization via calcium-looping in-situ dry reforming of methane and Fischer-Tropsch for synthetic fuels production
Chunxiao Zhang, Yingjie Li, Zhiwei Chu, Yi Fang, Kuihua Han, Zirui He
Abstract
Calcium-looping is an attractive approach for removing CO 2 in flue gas from the coal-fired power plant to form CaCO 3 . The integration of CO 2 capture via calcium-looping and in-situ dry reforming of methane with CaCO 3 allows the simultaneous CaCO 3 decomposition to regenerate CaO and syngas production. The produced syngas is expected for further utilization, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to produce valuable fuels. In this work, an integrated process of calcium-looping in-situ dry reforming of methane and Fischer-Tropsch was developed using Aspen Plus. Moreover, two other processes were also simulated as the comparison, consisting of the serial process of calcium-looping CO 2 capture, ex-situ dry reforming of methane with CO 2 and Fischer-Tropsch and the standalone process of calcium-looping CO 2 capture. The results indicate that the reduction in the demand for CaO sorbent and the enhancement in Fischer-Tropsch products yield and carbon conversion efficiency are achieved by integrating in-situ dry reforming of methane with CaCO 3 . Additionally, integrating CO 2 capture and in-situ dry reforming of methane with CaCO 3 in the case of the integrated process is efficient for enhancing the system efficiency and energy availability. Compared with the serial process, the integrated process shows a drop in the heat energy requirement of 28.08% and possesses the energy conversion efficiency of 43.74% and exergy efficiency of 41.81%. This work exhibits the prospect of the integrated process of calcium-looping in-situ dry reforming of methane and Fischer-Tropsch in the field of CO 2 capture and utilization for Fischer-Tropsch fuels production.