Hybrid metal oxide cycle water splitting
| DWPI Title: Hybrid thermochemical water splitting, by reducing metal oxide with concentrated solar energy, and reoxidizing oxygen-deficient metal oxide in electrochemical cell, where heat extracted from reduced metal oxide is used for power generation |
| Abstract: Hybrid thermochemical water splitting systems are disclosed that thermally reduces metal oxides particles to displace some but not all of the electrical requirements in a water splitting electrolytic cell. In these hybrid systems, the thermal reduction temperature is significantly reduced compared to two-step metal-oxide thermochemical cycles in which only thermal energy is required to produce hydrogen from water. Also, unlike conventional higher temperature systems where the reduction step must be carried out under reduced oxygen pressure, the reduction step in the proposed hybrid systems can be carried out in air, allowing for thermal input by a solar power tower with a windowless, cavity receiver. |
| Use: The hybrid thermochemical water splitting process is useful for the production of hydrogen. |
| Advantage: The hybrid thermochemical water splitting process allows efficient and economic production of hydrogen with reduced consumption of electricity. |
| Novelty: The hybrid thermochemical water splitting process comprises thermally reducing a metal oxide (12) with concentrated solar energy (18), and reoxidizing an oxygen-deficient metal oxide in an electrochemical cell. A chemical potential for the reducing and reoxidizing steps is provided by the metal oxide and electrical energy. The electrical energy is 0.23 volts significantly lower than needed for water or carbon dioxide. Heat (20) extracted from reduced metal oxide (14) is configured for power generation (22). The reoxidizing step reduces water to hydrogen. |
| Filed: 1/28/2016 |
| Application Number: US15008749A |
| Tech ID: SD 11147.3 |
| 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. |
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