Reactivity study and kinetic evaluation of CuO-based oxygen carriers modified by three different ores in chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) process

In the chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) process, CuO is a promising material due to the high oxygen carrier capacity and exothermic reaction in fuel reactor but limited by the low melting point. The combustion rate of carbon is faster than the decoupling rate of oxygen carrier (OC). Hence, high temperature tolerance and rapid oxygen release rate of CuO modified by three different ores were investigated in this study. The kinetics analysis of oxygen decoupling with Cu-based oxygen carriers was also evaluated. Results showed that CuO modified by chrysolite had faster oxygen release rate than that of CuO. Limestone showed obvious positive effect on the oxidization process. The selected OCs could keep stable in at least 20 cycles, for about 1200 min. Shrinking core model (SCM) fitted well for the decoupling process in the temperature range of 1123–1223 K. Reduction rate kinetic information may aid in the development of chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) technologies during reactor design and process modeling. Ternary doped copper oxide with chrysolite and limestone could improve the reactivity of CuO in decoupling and coupling process and also improve the high temperature tolerance.