CO₂ capture from cement plants using oxyfired precalcination and/or calcium looping

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Cement production is a significant source of industrial CO(2) emissions.
• Developing cost-effective carbon capture technologies is crucial for decarbonizing the cement industry.
• Calcium looping (CaL) and oxyfired circulating fluidized bed (CFBC) combustion are promising CO(2) capture strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the economic viability and CO(2) capture efficiency of two distinct capture technologies for cement plants.
• To assess the integration of CaL and oxyfired CFBC precalcination with existing cement plant infrastructure.
• To identify early-stage opportunities for large-scale industrial application of these CO(2) capture methods.

Main Methods:

• Mass and heat integration balances were calculated for both CaL and oxyfired CFBC precalcination systems.
• A comparative cost analysis was performed against a reference cement plant.
• The CaL process was adapted from power plant applications, while the oxyfired CFBC involved a precalcination step.

Main Results:

• The CaL process achieved up to 99% CO(2) capture with an avoided cost of $23/tCO(2).
• The oxyfired CFBC precalcination system captured 89% of CO(2) at a lower avoided cost of $16/tCO(2).
• Both technologies, at approximately 50 MWth scale, represent significant opportunities for industrial CO(2) capture development.

Conclusions:

• CaL and oxyfired CFBC precalcination are viable options for reducing CO(2) emissions from cement manufacturing.
• CaL offers higher capture rates, while oxyfired CFBC presents a more cost-effective solution for partial capture.
• These technologies are key to developing zero-emission cement plants and advancing large-scale CaL applications.