Boosting Reduction of Energy Intensity in cleaN STeelwork platfORM
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Stuart Scott (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Sukma M
(2024)
Decarbonising blast furnace gas with chemical looping using low oxygen potential ferrites: process and thermodynamic analysis
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Sukma MS
(2022)
Understanding the Behavior of Dicalcium Ferrite (Ca2Fe2O5) in Chemical Looping Syngas Production from CH4.
in Energy & fuels : an American Chemical Society journal
Zheng Y
(2025)
How do CaO/CuO materials evolve in integrated calcium and chemical looping cycles?
in Carbon Capture Science & Technology
Zheng Y
(2023)
The exploration of NiO/Ca2Fe2O5/CaO in chemical looping methane conversion for syngas and H2 production
in Chemical Engineering Journal
| Description | We explored the use of mixed oxides containing elements typically found in steelworks, i.e. oxides of iron, calcium and nickel, which can be easily recycled into the steel-making process. Materials containing copper and calcium were also developed; however, materials containing copper cannot be recycled into the steel-making process. In the processes investigated, the solid material is used to combust fuel using oxygen stored on the solids, partially (producing CO) or totally (producing CO2) oxidising the fuel. In addition, the calcium oxide can simultaneously capture the CO2. New processes were designed which exploited the carbonation and reduction behaviour of these solids, particularly when using Blast Furnace Gas (BFG) as the fuel. BFG is difficult as it contains both fuel (CO) and nitrogen; neither oxyfuel combustion (giving CO2 diluted with N2) nor post-combustion carbon capture (which is unable to remove the CO) alone would remove all the carbon to be captured. Flow sheet simulations of new processes demonstrated their efficiency and how to exploit the dual-function materials. For BFG, this new process used sorption-enhanced reduction to improve the energy balance between stages and eliminate the need for additional fuel firing to provide heat to regenerate the solid. Experiments showed the chemical feasibility of this process and elucidated the chemical reaction mechanism. The mixed oxide, calcium ferrite, was shown to work in a way in which both the carbonation and reduction reaction worked synergistically. Carbonation and reduction were shown to take place simultaneously under conditions when neither alone would be thermodynamically possible. The mixed oxide, calcium ferrite was found to be an active metal oxide which could be used to first partially oxidise methane, and then be reoxidised with either steam or CO2 to make hydrogen of syngas. The fact that CaO is produced when the material converts methane also allows, under some circumstances, CO2 to be captured so that it can be released later in a pure form for carbon sequestration. The coupling of solid reduction (i.e. oxidation of methane or BFG fuel) with carbonation requires the methane or syngas to be processed at temperatures < ~650 C. For the BFG, the reactions between the solid and it are relatively fast. However, for methane, the reduction of the solid is much slower at these temperatures. Experiments showed the effects of adding catalytic metals to the solid. We identified some elements which would lower the reaction initiation temperature, but the effect was small. More significant was the state of the solid. Partially reduced material is much more active than fresh material, owing to the formation of catalytically active iron. Copper-based materials were also investigated. These proved less desirable for integration into a steelworks as the spent material cannot be re-introduced back into the steel process. However, these materials proved to be robust over cycling with syngas. The performance tended to stabilise regardless of how the material was produced, reaching a stable set of phases it cycles between, which differ from the equilibrium phase. |
| Exploitation Route | These materials investigated in this work have can be applied to other chemical looping processes for hydrogen production, chemical and carbon capture. |
| Sectors | Chemicals Energy Environment |
| Title | Research data supporting [The exploration of NiO/Ca2Fe2O5/CaO in chemical looping methane conversion for syngas and H2 production] |
| Description | This Dataset include data of: fluidised bed (FB) cycling experiments of NiO/Ca2Fe2O5/CaO, TGA experiments, XRD results, FTIR measurement and H2 activation in fluidised bed. The raw/collected data (in xls. format) of gas measurement from CH4/CO2 FB cycling experiments contains results over 40 cycles at 700oC and 900oC respectively. The collected gas includes CO2, CO, CH4, H2 and O2. The data were processed on an hourly basis. The XRD data of fresh and used/cycled samples of NiO/Ca2Fe2O5/CaO included additional Aluminium peaks due to the use of Aluminium mount, so the processing of the raw data requires the removal of Aluminium peaks. The collected cycling experiments in TGA were also provided in xls. and processed on a minute basis. The mass has been normalised based on the initial mass. FTIR spectrums of the gas flow during the CH4 processing stage in TGA runs were collected. The bottom tabs (sub-sheets) within the xls. show the spectrum results at different times from the beginning to the end of the CH4 processing. The negative CO2 peaks, coming from background fluctuation over time, need to be removed to reflect the actual signals from the TGA gas stream. The details for interpretation and other results/data of material characterisation (SEM-EDS, XRD comparison with reference peaks from ICSD database) can be found in the main paper. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/348567 |
| Description | Keynote at International Conference on Chemical Reaction Engineering. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote talk at the 27th International Symposium for Chemical Reaction Engineering (ISCRE 27) on chemical looping technology |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk by Paul Hodgeson at IEAGHG High temperature looping meeting 20-21 January 2020 - Geleen, the Netherlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk on the work going on in the Brienstorm project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Talks given to ghgt-16. xploration of CaO/Ca2Fe2O5 composites for combined calcium looping and chemical looping combustion (CaL-CLC) application in the steel industry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk given to ghgt-16 Exploration of CaO/Ca2Fe2O5 composites for combined calcium looping and chemical looping combustion (CaL-CLC) application in the steel industry |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |