The chemical looping combustion (CLC) fixed bed facility consists of a tubular fixed bed reactor, with various sizes possible (up to 1 kW), and all required peripheral equipment. Continuous operation of the system alternately produces streams of hot depleted air and CO2/H2O. The system can also be adapted to be operated at elevated pressures. The CLC fixed bed facility is located at the TNO lab in Delft and can be relocated to another location.
With the CLC fixed bed facility, it is possible to demonstrate the looping of various metal/metal oxide beds through oxidizing and reducing conditions. Various fuels and gas mixtures can be fed for the reducing step, including components such as CH4, CO, H2, and CO2. The reactions are normally run between 350 and 900°C, but higher temperatures are possible, as limited by reactor materials. The facility is also currently tested up to 3 bar, but higher pressures are possible. It also provides insight into scaling up with the potential to use small (10 W) to medium (1 kW) size reactors. Furthermore, the small reactors and nature of fixed bed CLC allow for quick testing of material properties and degradation characteristics, applicable to both fixed bed and fluidized bed applications of CLC. Gas flow rates: 0.001–10 l/min.
A variety of analytical equipment is available to determine gas compositions. A fully automated system measures gas composition at the reactor outlet, pressure drop across the reactor, temperatures (along the bed for the larger reactors) and gas flow rates. Cycle operational parameters and stop conditions may be programmed for precise control of reactions up to 1000 cycles. A reactor model is also available to be able to simulate temperature and concentration profiles inside the reactor.