The redox kinetics of a Fe–Cu-based oxygen carrier
at 450–600
°C was measured under the fluidization state just like an actual
chemical looping combustor, using a microfluidized bed thermogravimetric
analysis technology. The oxidation and reduction reaction processes
were described by a product-island-based rate equation theory, and
the complex physical/chemical steps during the chemical reactions
were considered in the model, including the interphase mass transfer
in bubbling bed reactor, external particle diffusion, intraparticle
diffusion, surface reaction, product island growth, etc. The prediction
accuracy of the developed theory was validated by the experimental
data, and the kinetic parameters were obtained. For the reduction
reaction, it was found that the Fe–Cu-based oxygen carrier
can be completely reduced within 30 s by 10 vol % H2. For
the oxidation reaction, its kinetics vs time curves exhibited obvious
two-stage characteristics, and the first stage of the oxidation reaction
with 21 vol % O2 was ultrafast and can reach a conversion
level of 60% within 3 s. Moreover, the controlling mechanisms between
mass transfer and chemical reaction during the oxidation and reduction
reaction were analyzed.