Solar thermal aerosol flow reaction process
AssigneeMidwest Research Institute
InventorsAlan W. Weimer, Jaimee K. Dahl, J. Roland Pitts, Allan A. Lewandowski, Carl Bingham, Joseph R. Tamburini
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Abstract
The present invention provides an environmentally beneficial process using concentrated sunlight to heat radiation absorbing particles to carry out highly endothermic gas phase chemical reactions ultimately resulting in the production of hydrogen or hydrogen synthesis gases.
Claims24
A method for carrying out an environmentally benign high temperature chemical reaction to produce H2 or synthesis gas for use as a “clean fuel”, comprising:
- a) providing heat absorbing particles flowing in a gas stream comprising at least one reactant gas;
- b) heating said heat absorbing particles by direct solar thermal heating;
- c) allowing the hot particles to transfer heat to said flowing gas stream and heating said gas to a sufficiently elevated temperature for a sufficient residence time to carry out said reaction;
- wherein said chemical reaction is a dissociation reaction or reforming reaction.
A method of carrying out a high temperature chemical reaction in a graphite transport tube comprising the steps of:
- providing heat absorbing particles flowing in a gas stream comprising at least one reactant gas;
- heating said heat absorbing particles by solar-thermal heating;
- allowing the hot particles to transfer heat to said flowing gas stream and heating said gas to a sufficiently elevated temperature and for a sufficient residence time to carry out said reaction;
- wherein the said residence time is 0.001 to 1 seconds and the elevated temperature is in the range of 1500 K. to 1400K.
A method for carrying out an environmentally benign high temperature chemical reaction to produce H2 or synthesis gas for use as a “clean fuel”, comprising:
- a) providing heat absorbing particles flowing in a gas stream comprising at least one reactant gas;
- b) heating said heat absorbing particles by direct solar thermal heating;
- c) allowing the hot particles to transfer heat to said flowing gas stream heating said gas to a sufficiently elevated temperature for a sufficient residence time to carry out said reaction;
- wherein said chemical reaction is a reduction reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.