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Title: Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System (Final Report)

Abstract

This report describes progress accomplished in a three-phase project that has advanced the concept for a Solar Thermochemical Advanced Reactor System (STARS) – a system that is designed to convert solar energy into storable/useful chemical energy – from Technology Readiness Level 3 to Technology Readiness Level 6. STARS accomplishes its objective by directing the heat from a dish concentrator onto a chemical reaction system, increasing the energy content of the feedstock, methane, a chemical fuel that is available from multiple sources including natural gas, landfills and anaerobic digesters. The system uses a parabolic dish solar concentrator, previously developed for electrical power generation, and a compact, process-intensive chemical reaction system based on micro- and meso-channel process technology (MMPT). The combined Dish-STARSTM system provides a solar augment to the incoming methane stream, increasing its chemical energy content by 20-30% while decreasing its carbon intensity. When the immediate chemical product, known as syngas, is directly used for power generation the result is electricity with approximately 20% less CO2 emissions. Alternately, if the syngas is further reacted to produce valuable chemical products, such as hydrogen, the reduction in carbon emissions is retained and reduced carbon intensities can be attained for the chemical products. Inmore » a co-production mode, lowcarbon hydrogen or electricity plus various hydrocarbons (for example, methanol, olefins or plastics) can be produced. Over the course of this project, the efficiency of Dish-STARSTM was improved from a previous value of 63% to slightly over 70%, with results and analyses indicating a potential for values greater than 80%; manufacturing investigations identified fabrication methods for the MMPT components, proofed-out additive manufacturing for microchannel heat exchangers, developed equipment cost models and, together with on-sun testing, supported technoeconomic evaluations. If developed into commercial products, project results indicate the potential for the efficient use of concentrated solar energy in nearterm applications for electrical power generation and the production of chemicals, including hydrogen.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1514768
Report Number(s):
PNNL-26585
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 42 ENGINEERING; SunShot; STARS; concentrating solar power; steam methane reforming; process intensification; solar thermochemical; microchannel

Citation Formats

Zheng, R. Feng, and Wegeng, Robert S. Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System (Final Report). United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.2172/1514768.
Zheng, R. Feng, & Wegeng, Robert S. Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System (Final Report). United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1514768
Zheng, R. Feng, and Wegeng, Robert S. 2019. "Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System (Final Report)". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1514768. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1514768.
@article{osti_1514768,
title = {Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System (Final Report)},
author = {Zheng, R. Feng and Wegeng, Robert S.},
abstractNote = {This report describes progress accomplished in a three-phase project that has advanced the concept for a Solar Thermochemical Advanced Reactor System (STARS) – a system that is designed to convert solar energy into storable/useful chemical energy – from Technology Readiness Level 3 to Technology Readiness Level 6. STARS accomplishes its objective by directing the heat from a dish concentrator onto a chemical reaction system, increasing the energy content of the feedstock, methane, a chemical fuel that is available from multiple sources including natural gas, landfills and anaerobic digesters. The system uses a parabolic dish solar concentrator, previously developed for electrical power generation, and a compact, process-intensive chemical reaction system based on micro- and meso-channel process technology (MMPT). The combined Dish-STARSTM system provides a solar augment to the incoming methane stream, increasing its chemical energy content by 20-30% while decreasing its carbon intensity. When the immediate chemical product, known as syngas, is directly used for power generation the result is electricity with approximately 20% less CO2 emissions. Alternately, if the syngas is further reacted to produce valuable chemical products, such as hydrogen, the reduction in carbon emissions is retained and reduced carbon intensities can be attained for the chemical products. In a co-production mode, lowcarbon hydrogen or electricity plus various hydrocarbons (for example, methanol, olefins or plastics) can be produced. Over the course of this project, the efficiency of Dish-STARSTM was improved from a previous value of 63% to slightly over 70%, with results and analyses indicating a potential for values greater than 80%; manufacturing investigations identified fabrication methods for the MMPT components, proofed-out additive manufacturing for microchannel heat exchangers, developed equipment cost models and, together with on-sun testing, supported technoeconomic evaluations. If developed into commercial products, project results indicate the potential for the efficient use of concentrated solar energy in nearterm applications for electrical power generation and the production of chemicals, including hydrogen.},
doi = {10.2172/1514768},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1514768}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}