Moving bed reactor for solar thermochemical fuel production
| DWPI Title: Solar thermochemical reactor i.e. moving bed solar thermochemical reactor, for solar thermochemical fuel production, has heat exchanger including cold side outlet coupled to inlet of chamber, and lift including shaft with axis |
| Abstract: Reactors and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. Embodiments of reactors include at least two distinct reactor chambers between which there is at least a pressure differential. In embodiments, reactive particles are exchanged between chambers during a reaction cycle to thermally reduce the particles at first conditions and oxidize the particles at second conditions to produce chemical work from heat. In embodiments, chambers of a reactor are coupled to a heat exchanger to pre-heat the reactive particles prior to direct exposure to thermal energy with heat transferred from reduced reactive particles as the particles are oppositely conveyed between the thermal reduction chamber and the fuel production chamber. In an embodiment, particle conveyance is in part provided by an elevator which may further function as a heat exchanger. |
| Use: Solar thermochemical reactor i.e. moving bed solar thermochemical reactor, for solar thermochemical fuel production. |
| Advantage: The reactor has a longer conduit employed to increase a production chamber residence time independently of a reduction chamber residence time, as optimal reduction chamber residence time deviates from optimal production chamber residence time by an order of magnitude depending on the particle reaction kinetics, residence time is another independent reactor design parameter, which is optimized within the reactors to avoid compromises leading to reduced reactor performance. |
| Novelty: The reactor has a heat exchanger (HTX) that is a countercurrent exchanger including a hot side inlet coupled to an outlet of a thermal reduction chamber. The HTX has a cold side inlet coupled to an outlet of a fuel production chamber and a cold side outlet coupled to an inlet of the thermal reduction chamber. The HTX comprises a lift (520) including a hollow shaft with a longitudinal axis. An interior surface and an exterior of the hollow shaft convey two sets of reactive particles (550) in two directions along the axis, respectively. |
| Filed: 8/29/2011 |
| Application Number: US13220321A |
| Tech ID: SD 11975.0 |
| 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. |
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