Performance evaluation of biomass chemical looping gasification in a fluidized bed reactor using industrial waste as oxygen carrier
Avishek Goel, Fabiola Panitz, Elyas M. Moghaddam, Jochen Ströhle, Bernd Epple, Chao He, Jukka Konttinen
Abstract
• CLG examined using nickel smelter slag as oxygen carrier in fluidized bed reactor. • Steam addition facilitated greater char conversion and improved CLG performance. • Optimal CLG performance: 77.9% carbon conversion and 58.7% cold gas efficiency. • Nickel smelter slag displayed stable reactivity and minimal sintering behavior. • Nickel smelter slag is a suitable, cost-effective and eco-friendly oxygen carrier. The study investigates biomass chemical looping gasification (BCLG) using nickel smelter slag as an oxygen carrier (OC). Key operating parameters, including reactor temperatures (800–900 °C), OC-to-biomass ratio (OCBR, 4:1–15:1), and steam as a gasification medium, were evaluated in a 5kW th fluidized bed reactor using pine forest residue. Performance metrics including gas composition and process efficiencies were assessed. OCs were characterized using XRD, BET and SEM-EDS analyses. Optimal performance was achieved at 850 °C, an OCBR (10:1) and a steam-to-biomass ratio (1.4). The gas composition was 38.87 vol% H 2 , 19.65 vol% CO, 34.48 vol% CO 2 , and 6.61 vol% CH 4 , with a product gas yield of 1.24Nm 3 /kg-biomass. Carbon conversion efficiency was 77.85 %, cold gas efficiency 58.70 %, and levelized cost of fuel was 0.15 €/Nm 3 for product gas and 4.55 €/kg for H 2 .The results suggest that steam addition significantly enhanced char conversion, improving overall BCLG efficiency. Moreover, nickel smelter slag demonstrated stability, consistent reactivity, and limited sintering behavior.