Equilibrium thermodynamic analyses of methanol production via a novel Chemical Looping Carbon Arrestor process

Equilibrium thermodynamic analyses of methanol production via a novel Chemical Looping Carbon Arrestor process

Type	Journal Article
Author	Cheng Zhou
Author	Kalpit Shah
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890415002186
Volume	96
Pages	392-402
Publication	Energy Conversion and Management
Date	May 15, 2015
Abstract	Many consider methanol economy to be a viable alternative to hydrogen economy because of the better handling and storage characteristics of methanol fuel over liquid hydrogen. Authors describe a comprehensive equilibrium thermodynamic analysis conducted on methanol production via an innovative Chemical Looping Carbon Arrestor/Reforming process being developed at the University of Newcastle in order to reduce both energy consumption and carbon emissions. While detailed simulation revealed thermodynamic limitations within the Chemical Looping Carbon Reforming process, it also confirmed that the new concept is a low energy requirement and low emission option compared to other methanol production technologies. Specifically, the mass and energy balance study showed that the Chemical Looping Carbon Reforming process typically consumes approximately 0.76–0.77 mole methane, 0.25–0.27 mole carbon dioxide, 0.49–0.50 mole water, and 0.51 mole iron oxide per mole of methanol production. In addition, the energy efficiency of Chemical Looping Carbon Reforming process was found to be ∼64–70% and its emission profile was found as low as 0.14 mole carbon dioxide per mole of methanol, which is about 82–88% less than the conventional methanol production process and well below the emission levels of other emerging methanol production technologies.