Carbon dioxide conversion to hydrocarbon fuel via syngas production cell harnessed from solar radiation

A system to convert carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy, the system comprising:

• a solar thermal power system configured to convert solar energy to thermal energy and electricity, the solar thermal power system being in thermal communication with a syngas production cell, wherein the syngas production cell is configured to receive thermal energy from the solar thermal power system;
• the syngas production cell comprises a fuel side comprising a fuel inlet configured to receive a fuel feed stream and a fuel outlet configured to receive a syngas stream, and an oxygen side comprising an oxygen outlet configured to receive an oxygen stream,
• wherein the syngas production cell comprises a solid oxide fuel cell, and wherein the fuel feed stream further comprises a gaseous hydrocarbon,
• wherein the fuel feed stream comprises carbon dioxide and water,
• wherein the syngas production cell is configured to convert the carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, the carbon monoxide and hydrogen operable to form the syngas stream;
• and
• a catalytic reactor fluidly connected to the fuel side of the syngas production cell, the catalytic reactor being configured to convert the syngas stream from the fuel side of the syngas production cell to a hydrocarbon fuel stream, the catalytic reactor comprising a reactor bed, the reactor bed comprising a catalyst and a distributor, wherein the catalytic reactor is configured to operate from 250° C. to 650° C.