Stable solids circulation and inter-reactor pressure balance are essential for the reliable operation of fluidized bed systems for sorption-enhanced chemical looping gasification (SECLG). However, the coupled effects of solids circulation, inter-reactor pressure differences, and solids inventory distribution on reactor hydrodynamic stability remain insufficiently quantified. Moreover, the relationship between reactor-scale solids transport behavior, gasification performance, and system-level energy balance warrants further investigation. To address these issues, this study focuses on a three-reactor SECLG system for the steam gasification of corn cob, comprising a fuel reactor, a calciner, and an air reactor, with CaO/CaCO₃ and MnO serving as the CO₂ sorbent and oxygen carrier, respectively. A cold-flow three-reactor experimental rig was designed and constructed to investigate solids circulation, inter-reactor pressure balance, and solids inventory distribution. In parallel, the hot gasification process was simulated using the FluidBed reactor model in Aspen Plus to assess the effects of operating conditions on gasification performance. At a fuel-reactor temperature of 650 °C, a Ca/Mn ratio of 3:1, and a steam-to-carbon ratio of 4, the model predicted an H₂ concentration of 60.96%. This result provides a quantitative indication of the hydrogen production potential under the specified operating conditions. By integrating cold-flow hydrodynamic investigation with hot-state process simulation, this study establishes a complementary framework for understanding the operational characteristics and gasification performance of interconnected SECLG reactors, providing an engineering basis for their design and optimization.
 

SECLG, Fluidized bed, Sorption-enhanced, Process simulation, Hydrogen production