Method And Device For Producing Power By Means Of Oxidation Of Fuel In A Chemical Loop

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing power from at least one fuel, said method including: a step of oxidizing said fuel by means of placing it in contact with at least one oxygen loaded solid compound and of concomitantly reducing said solid compound.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A process for the production of energy from at least one fuel, comprising:
 a. the oxidation of at least one fuel by bringing into contact with at least one oxygen-charged solid compound and of the concomitant reduction of said solid compound;   b. recovering said reduced solid compound;   c. the exothermic oxidation of a non-zero fraction of said recovered solid compound by bringing said recovered solid compound into contact with at least one oxygen-comprising gas; and   d. recovering said oxidized solid compound, and of using a non-zero fraction of said oxidized solid compound in step a);   the heat given off in step c) being at least partially recovered in order to carry out a production of energy;   wherein the oxygen-comprising gas is alternately, according to the energy power desired, air or a gas comprising a concentration by volume of oxygen of between 22% and 100%.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the oxygen-comprising gas is alternately, according to the energy power desired, air or a gas comprising a concentration of oxygen by volume of between 23% and 40%. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein:
 during the period during which the oxygen-comprising gas is air, said fuel is of a first given type; and   during the period during which the oxygen-comprising gas is a gas comprising a concentration of oxygen by volume of between 22% and 100% or 23% and 40%, said fuel is of a second given type which is more reactive in step a) than said first type.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said first type of fuel is sub bituminous coal and said second type of carbon-based fuel is lignite or coal or HFO (heavy fuel oil) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or natural gas. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein:
 during the period during which the oxygen-comprising gas is air, use is made of a first flow rate of said solid compound in step a) and of a second flow rate of said solid compound in step c); and   during the period during which the oxygen-comprising gas is a gas comprising a concentration of oxygen by volume of between 22% and 100% or 23% and 40%, use is made of a third flow rate of said solid compound in step a) and of a fourth flow rate of said solid compound in step c), the ratio of said third flow rate to said first flow rate and the ratio of said fourth flow rate to said second flow rate being greater than or equal to the ratio of a second power (P 2 ) to said first power (P 1 ).   
     
     
         13 . A device for the production of energy, comprising:
 one reactor for the oxidation of fuel connected at the inlet to one or more sources of fuel and to at least one pipe suitable for conveying and intended to convey an oxygen-transporting solid compound to said oxidation reactor, said reactor having at least one outlet for gases resulting from the oxidation of said fuel;   one reactor for regeneration of said oxygen-transporting solid compound, connected at the inlet to a source of air and to at least one pipe suitable for conveying and intended to convey said oxygen-transporting solid compound from an outlet of said oxidation reactor to said regeneration reactor, said reactor having at least one outlet for gases resulting from the regeneration of said oxygen-transporting solid compound;   means for recovery of said solid compound at the outlet of said oxidation and regeneration reactors; and   heat exchangers capable of converting and intended to convert, into energy, the heat given off in said regeneration reactor;   said pipe capable of conveying and intended to convey an oxygen-transporting solid compound to said oxidation reactor being connected to an outlet of said regeneration reactor;   said device being characterized in that it additionally comprises:
 a source of a gas having a concentration of oxygen by volume of between 22% and 100% connected to an inlet of said regeneration reactor; and 
 means which make it possible to selectively open or close said connections between said regeneration reactor and said source of air, on the one hand, and said regeneration reactor and said source of a gas having a concentration of oxygen by volume of between 22% and 100%, on the other hand. 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said source of a gas having a concentration of oxygen by volume of between 22% and 100% is capable of providing and is intended to provide a gas for which the concentration of oxygen by volume is between 23% and 40%.