Cascading pressure reactor and method for solar-thermochemical reactions

DWPI Title: Solar thermochemical reactor consists of thermal reduction zone comprising two or more thermal reduction sub-zones operating at two or more decreasing pressures to thermally reduce reactive particles through direct heating by solar energy
Abstract: Reactors and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. The reactors and methods include a cascade of reduction chambers at successively lower pressures that leads to over an order of magnitude pressure decrease compared to a single-chambered design. The resulting efficiency gains are substantial, and represent an important step toward practical and efficient solar fuel production on a large scale.
Use: Solar thermochemical reactor (claimed).
Advantage: The reactor effectively produces reduced particles. The reactive particles has high surface/volume ratios and improves reaction rates.
Novelty: A solar thermochemical reactor consists of a thermal reduction zone to thermally reduce reactive particles through direct heating by solar energy to produce reduced particles. The thermal reduction zone comprises two or more thermal reduction sub-zones operating at two or more decreasing pressures. The thermal reduction sub-zone(s) receive separate solar inputs. The pressure decreases in the direction of particle flow.
Filed: 11/20/2014
Application Number: US14549331A
Tech ID: SD 13001.0
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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