Abstract:
We report on an experimental parametric study performed on a modular and fully automated solar fuel system for the solar-driven thermochemical splitting of CO2 and H2O. Concentrated solar energy is used as the source of high-temperature process heat for effecting a ceria-based redox cycle, producing syngas with a tailored H2/CO ratio. We determine the influence of the main operational parameters (namely: pressure, reduction-end and oxidation-start temperatures, CO2 and H2O mass flow rates) on the key performance indicators, such as the specific fuel yield, molar conversion, and solar-to-fuel energy efficiency. We show how the syngas product quality can be tailored for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis by selecting adequate oxidation conditions, eliminating the need for additional downstream refining of the syngas. The entire solar fuel system is fully automated based on real-time product gas analysis and feedback control loops, and can be further extended with an auto-optimization scheme that executes online mass and energy balances to guide performance improvement. An example of a solar run consisting of fully automated consecutive redox cycles is presented to show the implementation of this control scheme for the optimization of the solar fuel system.
Schäppi, Remo, Vivien Hüsler, and Aldo Steinfeld. “Solar Thermochemical Production of Syngas from H2O and CO2─ Experimental Parametric Study, Control, and Automation.” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (2024).
Publication Date:February 15, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.3c03044
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This publication is licensed under CC-BY 4.0. Open Access
