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US 10,035,121 B1Granted
Thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger
AssigneeNational Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
InventorIvan Ermanoski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. The reactor includes a multi-flight auger having different helix portions having different pitch. Embodiments of reactors include at least two distinct reactor portions between which there is at least a pressure differential. In embodiments, reactive particles are exchanged between portions during a reaction cycle to thermally reduce the particles at first conditions and oxidize the particles at second conditions to produce chemical work from heat.
Claims6
A method, comprising:
- transporting particles from a particle collection zone at a first temperature to a first reaction zone operating at a first reaction temperature by rotating a casing surrounding an auger having a flight capable of moving the particles;
- transporting particles from the first reaction zone to a bottom portion of an inner cylinder of the auger;
- transporting particles to a second reaction zone operating at a second reaction temperature less than the first reaction temperature;
- wherein heat is transferred from particles being transported from the first reaction zone to the bottom portion of the inner cylinder of the auger to particles being transported from the particle collection zone to the first reaction zone;
- and
- wherein the first reaction temperature is greater than the first temperature;
- and
- wherein particles are heated to the first reaction temperature in the first reaction zone by concentrated solar energy;
- and
- wherein particles are transported from the second reaction zone
- to the first reaction zone by a second auger.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.