A Review on Recent Patents on Chemical and Calcium Looping Processes

Chemical and calcium looping processes are interesting concepts for power production with integrated CO2 capture. In this review, recent patents on both chemical and calcium looping processes are discussed after an introduction to the carbon capture and sequestration problem. Novel process concepts on chemical looping and calcium looping are described in detail. Chemical looping combustion is mainly considered as an alternative to oxy-fuel processes, while calcium looping can be applied to retrofit existing power plants or for novel plants based on the reforming of fossil fuels to hydrogen. As such calcium looping processes are foreseen to be applied first in industry. Most of the patents deal with interconnected fluidized bed systems, while also alternative concepts are discussed in this review.