The solar reforming of methane with CO2 is investigated using a direct irradiated absorber subjected to solar flux levels in the range 180-250 kWm−2. This solar thermochemical process can upgrade the calorific value of the methane feed by 17% to produce hydrogen via the water-gas shift reaction. The volumetric receiver-reactor is best suited for this application because of its compactness and low thermal capacity. The new type of catalytically-activated “metallic foam” absorber–an Ni-Cr-Al-foam absorber applied with Ru/Al2O3–was found to have a superior thermal performance at relatively low solar fluxes when compared to conventional ceramic foam absorbers.
A nickel−magnesia solid solution Ni−Mg−O was examined as a catalyst for solar CO2 reforming
of methane. The activity was tested in a laboratory-scale transparent (quartz) reactor under direct
irradiation of the catalyst by high-flux visible light from a sun-simulator. The 8−11 wt % Ni−Mg−O catalyst gave the high reforming activity or about 100% of chemical conversion, with little
coking, under a high-flux irradiation of 890 kW m-2 and at a short residence time of about 0.15
s while passing a 1:1 CH4−CO2 gas mixture at 1 atm. The comparison of the activity data with
those obtained in a light-irradiated, nontransparent (steel) reactor showed that the intensification
of heat supply by the direct light irradiation of the Ni−Mg−O catalyst leads to considerable
reaction rate enhancement. Applying this Ni−Mg−O catalyst, a new type of “catalytically
activated” ceramic (alumina) foam absorber was prepared and tested on activity in a laboratory-scale volumetric receiver-reactor using the sun-simulator. This new absorber may be applied in
solar receiver-reactor systems for converting concentrated solar high fluxes to chemical fuels via
endothermic natural-gas reforming.
High-temperature solar reforming of methane with CO2 is investigated using a directly solar-irradiated absorber subjected to a solar mean flux level above 400kWm−2 (the peak flux of about 700kWm−2). The new type of catalytically activated ceramic foam absorber—a Ru∕Ni-Mg-O catalyzed SiC-foam absorber—was prepared, and its activity was tested in a laboratory-scale volumetric receiver-reactor with a transparent (quartz) window by using a sun-simulator. Compared to conventional Rh∕Al2O3 catalyzed SiC-foam absorber, this new catalytic absorber is more cost effective and is found to exhibit a superior reaction performance at the high solar flux or at high temperatures, especially above 950°C. This new absorber will be applied in solar receiver-reactor systems for converting concentrated high solar fluxes to chemical fuels via endothermic natural-gas reforming at high temperatures.
High-temperature solar reforming of methane with CO2 is investigated using a directly solar-irradiated absorber subjected to a solar mean flux level above 400kWm−2 (the peak flux of about 700kWm−2). The new type of catalytically-activated ceramic foam absorber — an Ru/Ni-Mg-O catalyzed SiC foam absorber — was prepared and its activity was tested in a laboratory-scale volumetric receiver-reactor with a transparent (quartz) window by using a sun-simulator. Compared to conventional Rh/Al2O3 catalyzed SiC foam absorber, this new catalytic absorber is more cost-effective and is found to exhibit a superior reaction performance at the high solar flux or at high temperatures, especially above 950 °C. This new absorber will be applied in solar receiver-reactor systems for converting concentrated high solar fluxes to chemical fuels via endothermic natural-gas reforming at the high temperatures.
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