Carbon capture and storage (CCS), part 2

Forskningsprojekt, 2020 –

It is expected that the research in this work package (carbon capture) will be devoted to developing technologies for achieving negative emissions through use of Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture. If we should have any chance of limiting warming to 1.5—2C, such methods will be needed at significant scale, as has been suggested by several credible organizations, such as the IPCC. Chemical-looping is particularly suited for biomass and waste, as the process has inherent properties which makes it suitable for limiting emissions of impurities and trace elements, including alkali, metals, sulphur and nitrogen species. During two decades we have built up a major infrastructure and key competence around CLC. The work during the next period will be focused on i) effect of impurities and trace elements, ii) oxygen carrier development, iii) increasing mass transfer rates in fluidized beds and iv) expansion to adjacent areas. With respect to impurities, trace elements, this is a focus we currently have, and it is expected that this will continue, as the fate of such elements poses quite some challenges, but also opportunities for CLC. It is also expected that research around oxygen carrier development will be accelerated, as new types of interesting materials have been discovered which could be of interest for CLC. We expect to leverage an ongoing AoA project together with AoA Materials around development of new high-throughput methods for oxygen carrier development, a project also highly related to trace element chemistry. A key challenge in CLC is the gas-solid contact, especially related to volatile-oxygen carrier interaction. Hence, we are pursuing new projects related to increasing mass-transfer in fluidized bed, an area where AoA funds have previously been utilized as seed funding. Finally, we expect to also focus on related activities,
e.g. achieving negative emissions with biochar, gasification and OCAC, where are underlying competences could be of value. The work will be carried out in a larger framework of externally funded projects from H2020, Formas, VR and STEM. Projects have a high degree of interdisciplinary activities with several departments at Chalmers and Gothenburg University, industry (Stockholm Exergi, Göteborg Energi, RWE etc) and other academic and research institutions (Rise, Åbo Akademi, Vienna University, Tsinghua University, etc.) involved in the projects. Although the fraction of AoA
funding is small, it is very important as it i) signals commitment to external funders of Chalmers engagement and ii) can be used as seed funds for important sub-projects not financed fully. Specifically, it is expected that the majority of funds will be used for financing of seniors and postdoctoral students, but also guest-researchers. Postdoc Duygu Yilmaz and Ali Hedayati and the guest researcher/postdoc Arijit Biswas will be financed partly with this funding during 2020-2021, in addition to one new postdoc at Energy Technology. Duygu will work cross-disciplinary at Chemistry and Energy Technology with material development and characterization, Arijit Biswas is a guest researcher from TATA steel (India) and will during 2020 and 2021 work with developing industrial residues and ores as bed material and study how these influence fuel conversions. Ali Hedayati will focus on nitrogen chemistry in CLC. Seniors involved in project are prof. Tobias Mattisson, ass. prof. Henrik Leion, prof. Anders Lyngfelt, ass. prof. Magnus Ryden and ass. prof. Carl Linderholm.