Hydrodynamic viability of chemical looping processes by means of cold flow model investigation

SINTEF Energy Research and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU have proposed a 150kWth reactor system design aiming at further development of chemical looping processes. It consists of a double loop circulating fluidized bed, meant to be used as a platform to study atmospheric chemical looping combustion configurations, as well as other possible chemical looping processes e.g. gas turbine combustion and reforming. The hydrodynamic viability of the design needs to be tested by means of a cold flow model, operated without chemical reactions. An evaluation of the state of the art within cold flow model testing was done. It led to the choice of building a full scale (i.e. 1:1) cold model of the 150kWth hot rig design, in order to reduce wall-effects which have considerably larger influence at smaller reactor diameters than on larger ones.