Solar-thermal fluid-wall reaction processing

A method for carrying out a high temperature chemical reaction process to produce hydrogen or synthesis gas comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a reactor comprising a first inner shell which is at least partially porous and has a first inner shell inlet and outlet, a second inner shell which is nonporous and substantially encloses the first inner shell, an outer shell which is nonporous, at least partially transparent and substantially encloses the second inner shell, a first plenum substantially located between the first inner shell and the second inner shell and having a first plenum inlet and outlet, and a second plenum substantially located between the second inner shell and the outer shell and having a second plenum inlet and outlet wherein the first plenum outlet is formed by the pores of the first inner shell and the first inner shell is prevented from fluid communication with the first and second gas plenums inside the reactor, except for fluid communication between the first inner shell and the first gas plenum through the pores of the first inner shell;
• b) flowing a first gas stream comprising at least one reactant gas from the inlet to the outlet of the first inner shell;
• e) flowing a second gas stream comprising a non-dissociating gas through the inlet of the first plenum, thereby causing at least part of the second gas stream to flow inwardly through the pores of the first inner shell;
• f) flowing a third gas stream comprising a non-dissociating, non-oxidizing gas from the inlet to the outlet of the second plenum;
• d) providing heat absorbing particles in the first gas stream;
• e) heating the heat absorbing particles at least in part with a source of concentrated sunlight through indirect solar thermal heating;
• and
• g) transferring heat from the particles to the first gas stream, thereby heating the reactant gas to a sufficiently high temperature so that a desired amount of conversion of the reactant gas occurs, thereby producing hydrogen or synthesis gas.