Chemical looping air separation (CLAS) emerges as a promising technology for oxygen separation from air constituents by utilizing oxygen carriers with uncoupling properties, which circulate between a reduction reactor and an air reactor. Among different studied oxygen carriers, copper-based oxygen carriers have demonstrated notable performance in CLAS, offering good fluidization properties and cost-effectiveness, thus making them potential candidates for large-scale oxygen production via CLAS. This study examines copper-based oxygen carriers through thermodynamic analysis, kinetic modeling, and process simulation of CLAS to recognize the impacts of specific process parameters on oxygen generation and process performance. Thermodynamic analysis facilitated the determination of the required conditions (temperatures and oxygen partial pressure) for reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions. Subsequently, kinetic modeling, employing a thermogravimetric analyzer, revealed that a 1.5-dimensional nucleation and nuclei growth model appropriately represented reduction, while a 1.5-order reaction model effectively fitted oxidation. Simulation using Aspen Plus software allowed for the exploration of the effects of entering gas velocity and reactor temperatures on oxygen production. It was observed that operating within the bubbling fluidization regime for both the reducer and the oxidizer yielded increased oxygen production, while elevated temperatures (1000 °C for reduction and 800 °C for oxidation) resulted in increased solids conversions and oxygen output. Nonetheless, further analysis encompassing energy and economic considerations is necessary to inform decision-making regarding the requisite conditions for CLAS implementation.
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