Analysis of integrated CO2 capture and utilization via calcium-looping in-situ dry reforming of methane and Fischer-Tropsch for synthetic fuels production

Calcium-looping is an attractive approach for removing CO2 in flue gas from the coal-fired power plant to form CaCO3. The integration of CO2 capture via calcium-looping and in-situ dry reforming of methane with CaCO3 allows the simultaneous CaCO3 decomposition to regenerate CaO and syngas production. The produced syngas is expected for further utilization, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to produce valuable fuels. In this work, an integrated process of calcium-looping in-situ dry reforming of methane and Fischer-Tropsch was developed using Aspen Plus. Moreover, two other processes were also simulated as the comparison, consisting of the serial process of calcium-looping CO2 capture, ex-situ dry reforming of methane with CO2 and Fischer-Tropsch and the standalone process of calcium-looping CO2 capture. The results indicate that the reduction in the demand for CaO sorbent and the enhancement in Fischer-Tropsch products yield and carbon conversion efficiency are achieved by integrating in-situ dry reforming of methane with CaCO3. Additionally, integrating CO2 capture and in-situ dry reforming of methane with CaCO3 in the case of the integrated process is efficient for enhancing the system efficiency and energy availability. Compared with the serial process, the integrated process shows a drop in the heat energy requirement of 28.08% and possesses the energy conversion efficiency of 43.74% and exergy efficiency of 41.81%. This work exhibits the prospect of the integrated process of calcium-looping in-situ dry reforming of methane and Fischer-Tropsch in the field of CO2 capture and utilization for Fischer-Tropsch fuels production.